LA YERAGE. 



3.5 



summer and the tips strike the earth. If the tip is secured by 

 a slight covering of earth, or if it finds lodgment in a mellow 



soil, roots are emitted and in 

 the fall a strong bud or 

 ' ' crown "or " eye ' ' is formed 

 for next year's growth. The 

 parent cane is severed in the 

 fall or spring, some four or 

 six inches above the ground, 

 and an independent plant, 

 known as a "root-tip," as 

 shown in Fig. 18, is obtained. 

 In this instance, as in most 

 others, i t is immaterial at 

 what point the parent stem is severed, except that a short por- 

 tion of it serves as a handle in carrying the plant, and also marks 

 the position of the plant when it is set. The black raspberry 

 propagates itself naturally by means of layers, and it is only 

 necessary, in most cases, to bring the soil into a mellow condi- 

 tion when the tips begin to touch the ground in order that they 

 may find anchorage. This layering by inserting the growing 

 point has the advantage of producing very strong "crowns" or 

 plants in autumn from shoots or canes of the same year, and it 

 should be more generally practised. Even currants, gooseber- 

 ries, and many other plants can be handled in this way. 



Fig. 18. Raspberry tip. 



Fig. 19. Covered Layer of Viburnum. 



In most cases of layerage it is necessary to lay down the branches 

 and to cover them. The covering may be continuous, as in Fig. 

 N. B. 3 



