34 



PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS. 



ground. 



Fig-. 10. 



If not taken on till spring, the operation must be 

 performed as early as possible. In ordinary in- 

 stances to prevent drying, about two-thirds or 

 three-quarters of the shoot should be buried be- 

 neath the surface ; and the moisture may be still 

 *> further retained by a covering of leaves or moss, 

 or by placing them under the shade of a wall or 

 close fence. Failure often results from a neglect 

 to press the soil closely about the cutting. 



To procure young plants of the gooseberry and 

 currant with straight, clean stems at the surface, 

 and free from suckers, it is only necessary to re- 

 move every bud except a few at the upper end, fig. 

 10. The length may be eight inches to a foot. 



In propagating the grape, scarce sorts are in- 

 creased by single buds with a portion of adhering wood, each 

 , being placed separately in a pot, about 

 half an inch deep, under glass in a 

 hot-bed, fig. 11. They are found 

 to root better when a portion of the 

 pith is removed by splitting length- 

 wise, as in fig. 12. The plants from 

 single buds are weaker in growth, 

 but are usually better rooted for rais- 

 ing vines in pots. A similar mode oi 

 propagation, familiar to all, is adopt- 

 ed with the potato, the tubers oi 

 which are only enlarged underground 

 stems, covered with eyes or buds. 



II. LAYERS. 



A layer is a low side-shoot 

 bent down and buried at the 

 middle in the soil, fig. 13. The 

 buried portion strikes root, 

 when it is taken off and plant- 

 ed separately. Its advantage 

 over a cutting, is that it is 

 nourished while the roots are 

 forming by the parent plant. 

 Hence many plants which 

 cannot be increased by cut- 



Fig. 11. 



Fig. 12. 



Fig. 13. 



