AIR-LAYERING. 



evaporation from the soil. Some plants, like Ficus elas- 

 tica y can be readily rooted by wrapping 

 them with moss alone, if the atmos- 

 phere is sufficiently 

 close. A paper cone 

 may be used in place of 

 a pot where the atmos- 

 phere is not too humid, 

 as in carnation houses 

 (Fig- 35). Pot-layering 

 is employed not only for j6 Layering _ pot . 

 the purpose of multiply- 

 ing plants, but in order to lower the 

 heads of "leggy" or scraggly speci- 

 mens. The pot is inserted at the 

 ^ required point upon the main stem, 

 and after roots have formed abundantly 

 the top may be cut off and potted inde- 

 pendently, the old stump being dis- 

 carded. 



The French have various handy 

 devices for facil- 

 itating pot-layer- 

 ing. Fig. 3 6 38 ' Layering-cup. 

 shows a layering-pot, provided with 

 a niche in the side to receive the 

 stem, and a 

 flange behind for 

 securing it to a 

 support. The 



pot shown in Fig. 33 is a similar de- 

 vice. Fig. 37 represents a layering- 

 cone. It is made of zinc or other 

 metal, usually 4 or 5 inches high, and 39.Layering.cup. 

 is composed of two semi-conical wings, which are hinged 

 on the back and are secured in front, when the instrument 

 is closed, by means of a hinge-pin. A cord is inserted in 



Layer ing -cone. 



