PROPAGATION BY LAYERS. 43 



to assume. It has been recommended to transfer cions and 

 buds of promising individuals into other trees in a bearing 

 state. This is peculiarly advantageous with respect to tho 

 peach and other stone fruits, as it both hastens the period 

 of puberty, and economizes the space which must be occu- 

 pied, especially where these are on a wall. 



Propagation by Cuttings. — Gooseberries, currants, figs, 

 vines, and some others, are increased by means of cuttings. 

 An annual shoot is taken off along with a thin slice, or 

 heel, as it is called, of the former year's wood, which is 

 found to facilitate the production of roots. The cuttings 

 are placed firmly in the soil, at various depths, according 

 to their length, the buds or eyes which would thus come 

 beneath the surface having been previously removed. 

 Vines are sometimes propagated from small pieces of shoots 

 having a single bud ; when they have to be transmitted to 

 a distance, an inch in length may suffice. Most of the cod- 

 lin apples may be increased by cuttings ; and even large 

 branches of those which produce burs may be planted at 

 once, with success. In all deciduous trees the operation 

 is most advantageously performed in winter. 



Propagation by Layers. — This is not much resorted to 

 in the fruit garden. It is occasionally employed as the 

 means of dwarfing trees. " Laying," says Professor 

 Lindley, " is nothing but striking from cuttings which are 

 still allowed to maintain their connection with the mother 

 plant by means of a portion at least of their stem." The 

 operation is performed by bending down a branch to the 

 earth, and pinning it there with hooked pegs. A few 

 inches from the extremity a notch or slit is cut upwards, 

 generally from the insertion of a bud. Sometimes the 

 shoot is pierced with a number of holes ; a wire is bound 

 round it ; or even a ring of bark is removed. The object 



