THE NURSERY-BOOK. 



19, or it may be applied only to the joints or restricted portions of 

 the shoot, as illustrated in Fig. 20. In either case, the covering 

 should be shallow, not exceeding one to three inches. If the 

 shoot is stiff a stone or sod may be placed upon it to hold it 

 down ; or a crotched stick may be thrust down over it, as in the 

 " P e gg m H down " of propagators. 



The strongest plants are usually obtained by securing only one 

 plant from a shoot, and for this purpose the earth should be 

 applied only at one point, preferably over a bud somewhere 



""Wfr" 'V 



Fig. 20. Layered Shoots. 



near the middle of the shoot. If the buds are close together, all 

 but the strongest one may be cut out. If more plants are 

 desired, however, serpentine layering may be practiced, as shown 

 at A in Fig. 20. The shoot is bent in an undulating fashion, 

 and from every covered portion roots will form and a plant may 

 be obtained. The covered layer also possesses the advantage of 

 giving more than one plant, but the roots are apt to form so con- 

 tinuously that definite and strong plants are rarely obtained ; 

 these rooted portions may be treated as cuttings, however, with 

 good results. The grape is sometimes propagated by serpentine 

 layering. 



