20 Effective Farming 



the soil and induced to take root while still attached to the 

 parent plant is called a layer and the process of propagating 

 plants in this way is known as layering. Grapes and black 

 raspberries are often propagated by layering. In the case of 

 the grape, this may be accomplished by bending down in the 

 spring a cane of the previous season's growth, laying it in a 

 shallow trench in the ground, partly filling the trench with fine 

 earth, and packing the earth firmly about the cane. About 

 eight inches or so of the end of the cane is left uncovered to 

 supply foliage to keep the vine growing. Sprouts will soon 

 form on the layer and as these grow the trench is gradually 

 filled up. As soon as the new plants are thoroughly rooted, 

 they are detached from the parent plant and transplanted. 



Black raspberries are propagated by what is called tip layer- 

 ing. A cane is bent over and the tip covered with about two 

 inches of soil. Roots and a crown of buds that will form a 

 new cane will develop. When the new plant is well rooted, 

 it is separated from the parent plant and set where it is to stand 

 permanently. 



Mound layering is a method often employed for propagating 

 currants, gooseberries, and quinces. In the case of currants, 

 the bush is cut back early in the spring to stimulate new growth 

 and early in the fall earth is mounded up around the plants 

 until it covers the new wood. This causes roots to develop 

 on these new canes. Thus a number of new individuals are 

 produced. These may be removed from the parent plant and 

 transplanted the next spring. 



Grafts. When a twig of one tree is fastened to the stem or 

 root of another in such a way that the twig will continue growth 

 from nourishment furnished by the latter, it forms a graft. 

 The twig is known as the cion and the stem or root as the 

 stock. The cambium layers of stock and cion must be in con- 

 tact. Then sap will be carried from the stock to the cion. 

 This method is employed extensively for apples, pears, quinces, 

 apricots, plums, and others. When propagating apple trees, 



