PLANTING SLIPS, LAYERS AND SUCKERS. 221 



When entire slips are used, onl}' the lower portion is inserted 

 into the ground ; of truncated slips only a small part remains 

 above the surface. In order to insure striking and a proper 

 development, the ends of the slips should be cut sharply- and 

 smoothly in a slanting direction, and each truncated slip must 

 contain some buds, of which at least one, or better several, 

 must be above ground. It is also essential that the bark 

 should not be injured at the ends; hence pushing the slips 

 into the ground without a previous opening is only admissible 

 in very loose soil ; in all other cases they should be planted 

 with a special iron dibble. 



The best time for planting slips is early spring, shortly 



Fig. 74. 



before the buds begin to swell, though, under favourable circum- 

 stances, the slips can be planted at other times, even during 

 the growing season. The roots formed after planting come 

 from the callus produced at the lower end or from the lenticels 

 in the bark. 



In England the stools of osiers are recruited by slips, which 

 are mostly entire ; they are planted immediately after the 

 osiers have been cut, usually in December. On the Continent 

 truncated slips are used in preference. 



2. Layers. 

 Layers are branches, or stool shoots, which have been bent 

 down and partly buried in the soil ; they develop roots at the 

 buried portion, and when this has taken place, they are severed 



