&ARCH.J THE NURSERY. 281 



There are several methods of performing this operation. 



1. Having well dug the ground and made it very light, take some 

 of the most flexible and free growing shoots, and lay them into it, 

 about six inches deep, pegging them down with hooked sticks, if ne- 

 cessary, leaving the end of the layer, a foot or a foot and a half, or 

 more if the twig be young and healthy, out of the ground, with its head 

 as erect as possible ; keep them moist during the summer season, 

 and if of a free rooting kind, they will take root and be fit to be taken 

 off and removed, in the autumn or spring following ; if not, they 

 must remain another season. 



2. Tie a piece of wire tight round the bark of the layer, at the 

 place you intend to lay in the ground, and half an inch below a bud ; 

 twist the ends of the wire, so that they may not untie, as the shoot 

 swells, prick the parts above and below the wire with an awl in se- 

 veral places, and then lay it in the ground as before directed. This 

 method will succeed when the other fails. 



3. Slit the shoot underneath a joint or bud, up the middle, and 

 about an inch long, or a little better, according to the size and na- 

 ture of the layer, forming a sort of tongue, nearly the same as di- 

 rected for carnation layers ; laying that part in the earth and raising 

 the top upright, so as thereby to separate the tongue of the slit from 

 the other part and keep it open ; then apply the earth as before. 

 This is the most universally practised and successful mode, when 

 any preparation of the shoot is necessary to promote its rooting. 



4. Twist the part of the branch intended to be layed in the earth, 

 as you would a willow twig, this greatly facilitates the emission of 

 fibres ; and layers of numerous trees and shrubs, may be forwarded 

 exceedingly in rooting by this method. 



5. Cut the bark nearly all round, a little below a joint or bud, 

 taking out small chips thereof in several places below the cut, and 

 lay that part in the earth. Some sorts will root more freely by 

 this, than any other mode. 



6. Thrust an awl through the shoot at a joint in several places, 

 laying that part in the earth, and it will emit fibres from the wounds. 



After laying, in either of the above methods, there is no particu- 

 lar culture necessary, except in the heat of summer to give occa- 

 sional waterings, to keep the earth moist about the layers, which 

 will greatly promote their rooting ; and which if effected the first 

 season, they should be taken off in the autumn or spring following. 



Additional Observations on Planting. 



Plants are always most prosperous when propagated by seed, 

 which is nature's favourite method. 



Evergreen plants are best fit for transplanting from the seed- 

 beds into nursery rows, when they have attained the height of, from 

 four to six inches, and deciduous kinds, when from six to twelve 

 inches high. 



Layers should not be suffered to remain on the mother plants, 

 longer than until sufficiently rooted ; which will be effected by 



oo 



