70 OF PROPAGATION. SBT. V. 



(by cutting down) and raising plants by layers" 

 They are made of the lower branches of the plant, 

 and must be young and pliable, to bend down with- 

 out breaking, to the depth of three, four, or more 

 inches, (according as the soil is light or heavy) at 

 which they should be held securely by good pegs ; 

 and if they cannot be brought down sufficiently deep, 

 some earth may be raised up to them. 



Let the soil about layers be good and kept cool 

 by occasional waterings, and laying some moss, turf, 

 litter, or rather small pebbles about them, which will 

 not harbour insects. The part out of ground (if ra- 

 ther long) may be supported erectly by a tie to a 

 stick. It is a good way to slit neatly, with a sharp 

 knife, the part at the peg, as in carnation layers, a 

 little more than an inch ; and some gardeners prick a 

 few holes about the part (at a joint) with a blunt 

 awl, to help the layer to strike root ; and for the 

 harder woods, make several slits, or chips, in the 

 part layered in the earth, binding the layer rather 

 tight just above it with pliant wire ; and soft wooded 

 layers are sometimes twisted to crack the bark, in 

 order to help the part to strike quickly. Generally 

 layers should be shortened to six or eight inches 

 above the ground ; or do it to two eyes, he it more 

 or less above ground. 



Where there are no branches low enough to be 

 brought into the ground, (and it is not thought good 

 to head down for the production of low shoots, or 

 suckers) plants may be layered by fixing a broken 

 pot, or a box with a slit in the side, to the height ne- 

 cessary to lay in a branch. A branch also, if long 

 enough, may be thrust through the hole of a garden 

 pot upwards, then tilled with earth, and supported 

 by some contrivance, and shading by some means, 

 and in both cases water frequently. Take care not 

 JQ injure the bu4s in drawing through the hole, of 



