CHAPTER III. 



LAYERAGE. 



Layeragfe. The operation or practice of making a layer, or the state 

 or condition of being layered. 



Layer. A shoot or root, attached to the parent plant, partially or 

 wholly covered with earth with the intention that it shall take root and then 

 be severed from the parent. 



Stolon. A decumbent shoot which, without the aid of man, takes root 

 and forms an independent plant. 



nANY plants habitually propagate by means of decum- 

 bent shoots and runners. These shoots become more 

 or less covered with earth or leaves, and roots are em- 

 itted, usually at the joints. In many cases, the old shoots die away 

 and an entirely independent plant arises from each mass of roots. 

 In other plants, the shoots remain attached to the parent, at least 

 for a number of years, so that the plant comprises a colony of 

 essentially distinct individuals. Great numbers of plants which 

 do not propagate naturally by means of layers are readily in- 

 creased by this means under the direction of the grower. In 

 most cases it is only necessary to lay .down the branches, cover 

 them with earth, and allow them to remain until roots are well 

 formed, when they can be severed from the parent. Layering is 

 one of the simplest methods of propagation, as the mother 

 plants nurse the layer plants until they can sustain themselves. 

 It is a ready means of multiplying hard-wooded plants which 

 do not grow well from cuttings. 



All vines, and all plants which have runners or long and slen- 

 der shoots which fall to the ground, may be multiplied readily by 

 layerage. Among fruits, the black-cap raspberry is a familiar 

 example. The canes of the current year bend over late in 

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