Appendix. 333 



All these ingredients should be mixed well together, and 

 allowed to decay thoroughly in water, in a large nand, 

 or tub. As may be surmised, the perfume this compound 

 gives off while decaying, is not agreeable. Girdharl says 

 that to ascertain whether this layering compost is fit for use 

 or not, a green twig of any tree should be introduced into 

 this clay. If by the following morning, its green colour is 

 unchanged, it is fit for use ; otherwise, it should be allowed 

 to ferment and decay for some time longer. 



The way he uses this composition is as follows : He selects 

 a branch suited to layering. Under a joint he tightens a 

 bit of twine, so as to cut into the bark, and then knots the 

 twine. He then wraps the tied part in this layering clay, to 

 the length of about four inches, and two inches across, giving 

 it a spindle shape. He binds the whole with cloth and string, 

 and bends it U-fashion in a pot of rich soil, putting a heavy 

 brick on the top of the earth, in order to prevent the layer 

 from springing out. The tightened string appears to check 

 the flow of sap, and cause a sort of callus to be formed. The 

 clay appears then to stimulate the formation of roots, which, 

 finding a rich pabulum, develop quickly and fill the pot. 

 The pot, of course, should be watered when necessary. By 

 this means layers have been taken from plants which will 

 not otherwise root ; and those which took a year to form 

 roots could, by this method, be' made to do so in a few 

 months. Instead of twine, a bit of wire tightened round the 

 bark by means of a pair of pliers, would answer as well, if 

 not better. The Malta lemon roots so readily when layered 

 in the hot weather and rains, that no clay is needed, but 

 only the tightened string. Other kinds of citrus, however, 

 take much longer to root, and therefore this layering clay 

 might be very useful where rapidity of layering was an 

 object. The clay should be prepared some time before it is 

 required. I found that in the hot weather, if the pots are 

 watered regularly, and in the rains, when the foliage was 

 active, the layers rooted more quickly than in the winter. 

 When roots are formed, they can be easily seen on the sur- 

 face of the pot, under the brick ; often they may be seen peep- 

 ing out of the drainage-holes, which should be at the sides, 

 on a level with the bottom, and not at the centre of the 



