K0SE8 THAT BL003I IN JUNE. 79 



make a slit about two inches long, thereby forming 

 what gardeners call a " tongue ;" this should be done 

 at the side or back part of the shoot, and to prevent 

 the tongue from closing, introduce a portion of the 

 soil, or a chip of any hard substance, which will 

 keep it open, then lay it carefully in the space pre- 

 pared, and fill up with the fresh compost, leaving the 

 top of the shoot in as upright a position as possible ; 

 to finish, make it fast to a small rod to prevent the 

 wind from blowing it about. The tongue sh(5uld not 

 be in the very spot that forms the bow, as thereby the 

 branch would be too much weakened ; the lower eye 

 of the upright portion of the shoot is the most success- 

 ful spot. When the whole is done, place the stone 

 or block on the surface, over the layer, which will 

 prevent the sun from drying the earth, and greatly 

 facilitate- the growth of the roots. In the month of 

 November the layers that are rooted may be taken off, 

 and either potted as required, or planted out where 

 they are to remain, heading down the shoot to within 

 three or four eyes of the surface. Those that are 

 not rooted will have to remain another yearj prune 

 them the same as directed for the parent plant. If 

 the operation by layering is not performed in the 

 summer it can be done in February, March, or April, 

 before the plant has begun to grow, observing the 

 same direction as given above. About Philadelphia 



