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PROPAGATION BY LAYERS. 



In former times, when few trees were propagated in nurseries, ex- 

 cepting limes and elms, the shoots produced from the stools were not 

 laid down, but after two years' growth the shoots were earthed up, 

 and after remaining on two years longer, they were slipped off and 

 found to have a sufficient supply of roots to ensure their independent 

 existence, after, however, being cut in and headed down. 



Shrubs with very long shoots, such as clematis, tecoma, vitis, wis- 

 taria, honeysuckle, &c., are stretched along the surface, and every 

 joint, or every alternate joint, prepared for rooting; so that one shoot 

 produces half as many plants as it contains joints, or even a plant for 

 every joint. The joint in this case is not tongued, but bruised, pierced, 

 or slit, or simply pressed down to the moist soil by a hook, peg, or 

 small stone the latter having the advantage of retaining moisture, as 

 well as checking the return of the sap. Shoots which continue grow- 

 ing all the summer, such as those of the wistaria, are laid as they extend 

 in length ; and when the parent plant is placed on moist heat, under 

 glass, and near it, it is incredible the number of rooted layers that may 

 thus be obtained in one season. 



Layering by Insertion of the Growing Point. Shoots of the bramble 

 will emit roots by the usual mode of twisting and pegging down ; but 

 if the growing point of the shoot is merely inserted in the soil to the 

 depth of an inch, an astonishing quantity of roots will be produced in 

 the same season, more, in fact, than in two years by the other mode. 

 The gooseberry, the Aristolochia, and the common nightshade, treated 

 in the same way, succeed equally well; and doubtless many other 

 species might in like manner be easily and quickly propagated. 



Plum and Paradise stocks for fruit trees are raised in large quanti- 

 ties, by a somewhat similar mode. The shoots of the stool are pegged 

 down flat on the surface, and covered entirely over, to the depth of 



half an inch, with loamy 



185 - soil. This is done early 



in spring, and in the 

 course of the summer 

 every bud sends up a 

 shoot which roots at its 

 base, and at the end of 

 autumn is fit to be taken 

 off as a separate plant. 

 The tree peony is some- 

 times propagated in this 

 manner, but with this 

 difference, that a ring of 

 bark is taken off between 

 each bud. 



Roses, though mostly 

 increased by budding, 

 grafting, and cuttings, 

 are also readily rooted 

 by layers, which in the nurseries are made both in spring and autumn, 



A petunia layered. 



