MARCH] THE NURSERY. 301 



called, continue for many years, always laying down the shoots of 

 the last season, and every year successively they produce abundance 

 for the ensuing year's laying, still taking them off either in autumn 

 or spring as they become well rooted. The elm, linden, mulberry, 

 and maple, do extremely well in this way, but it is seldom practised 

 on any of the pine family. The far greater number of kinds will be 

 well rooted and fit to take off in one year after laying, some not till 

 the second, and others not until the third year ; but the latter are 

 very few. 



The ground in these quarters should always be kept free from 

 weeds, be manured occasionally, and dug every autumn and spring, 

 being careful not to disturb the layers. 



After the layers are taken up, the stools must have all the wounded 

 parts taken away, and any old branches cut off pretty close to the 

 stems, the next season these will produce new shoots, which may be 

 laid the autumn or spring following. 



The best season for laying all the kinds that do not root freely, is 

 autumn, and the young shoots of the preceding summer's growth, 

 should be preferred ; these should be tongued as hereafter directed. 

 The free rooting kinds may be laid either in autumn or spring, as 

 convenient. 



Though branches may be laid at any time, yet the best season for 

 laying hardy trees, that shed their leaves, is October or November ; 

 for such as are tender early in March ; evergreens may either be laid 

 at the latter period or in June or July. 



When the branches or twigs cannot be bent down into the ground 

 lay them in boxes or pots, filled with good earth and elevated to the 

 necessary places by blocks, tressels, or benches. Too much of the 

 head of the layers must not be left on, and the smaller, the less 

 should be left out of the ground, except they are twigs of the former 

 year's growth, and intended for timber trees, in which case they 

 should not be topped. 



Many trees and plants will not put out roots from old wood 

 branches ; yet if the young shoots of the same year be laid in July, 

 they will often root very freely ; but as those shoots will be soft and 

 pithy, they must not have too much wet, which would cause them to 

 rot ; cover, therefore, the surface of the ground with moss, which 

 will prevent its drying too fast, and a little water will suffice. 



In many kinds of the young shoots of the same year, if laid in 

 June or July, they will be well rooted by the November or spring 

 following, and may then be taken off. 



When layers are to be made from green-house shrubs, or other 

 plants in pots, the laying should be generally performed either in 

 their own pots, or in others placed convenient for that purpose. 



Sometimes the branches of trees are so inflexible as not to be easily 

 brought down for laying, in which case they must be half cut 

 through, as practised in plashing hedges, and by that means brought 

 down ; or when they are got too old for plashing, or the nature of 

 the wood will not bear that operation, they may be thrown down on 

 one side, by opening the earth and loosening or cutting the roots on 

 the opposite. 



