72 ON THE PROPAGATION OF VINES. 



some rich mould, which must be sifted very fine. Put 

 a large piece of potsherd, or a good-sized oyster shell, 

 over the hole at the bottom ; fill the pot about two- 

 thirds full with the mould, and sink it three inches be- 

 low the surface of the soil. Then take the shoot, the 

 four last buds of which will be required to form the 

 layer, and cut the fourth bud cleanly and smoothly out, 

 so that no shoot can afterwards push from it. Bend 

 the shoot carefully down, in such a manner that the 

 second and third buds shall be at least three inches be- 

 low the surface of the mould when filled in, and the 

 first bud even with it, or, rather, just peeping out of 

 the mould. Secure the shoot firmly in this position, 

 so that its own force will not raise it up. then fill the 

 pot up with mould to within half an inch of the top, 

 which space must be left for the purpose of holding 

 liquid manure. If the mould settle down afterwards, 

 and leave a greater space than this, more must be add- 

 ed to make good the deficiency. Shoots may be thus 

 laid down any time from the fall of the leaf to the mid- 

 dle of March. The latter period will be quite early 

 enough, as no roots will be made before the latter end 

 of June, or the beginning of July. After the first of 

 April, the mould in the pot must be constantly kept moist, 

 for which purpose supply it as often as necessary with 

 soap-suds or the dramings of a dung-heap. The layer 

 must be separated from the parent vine sometime be- 

 tween the twentieth of August and the first of Sep- 

 tember, and planted out immediately, with the ball of 

 earth entire, in the situation in which it is intended to 

 remain. Supply it plentifully with liquid manure of 

 the above-mentioned description, throughout the re- 

 mainder of the season till the fall of the leaf. It is 

 not necessary to ring, twist, cut, or p : erce the layer, be- 

 fore bending it down in the pot ; keeping the mould con- 

 stantly moist with liquid manure, will excite it to root 



