Propagating Trees and Shrubs 21 



of being placed in an unheated frame, this greatly enhancing 

 the speedy formation of roots. Two or three large frames 

 are always useful in the nursery for the reception of choice 

 cuttings, seeds, etc., and if boxes, say, 24 in. by 14 in. by 

 5 in., are made just to suit the dimensions of the frames, a 

 great number of young plants, cuttings, and seeds of the 

 less common kinds will find a beneficial protection. The 

 boxes should be made of stout wood, and have six holes 

 bored in the bottom of each, so that the excess water may 

 readily pass away. Before planting these, fill each with a 

 mixture of half sand, half soil, broken finely down, the 

 cuttings being inserted in small holes made by a sharp- 

 pointed stick. A thin coating of sand placed on the surface 

 will greatly facilitate the process of rooting. Cuttings of 

 coniferous trees should have 2 in. of ripened wood attached 

 to them, and be inserted 4 in. deep in the ground ; while, 

 for most others, the cuttings may be 8 in. long, 3 in. being 

 inserted in the soil. 



From Layers. For increasing game coverts, shrubberies, 

 or some of those trees and shrubs that cannot well and 

 speedily be raised from cuttings or seed, layering will be 

 found a convenient and cheap method. There are several 

 other advantages too, as no protection of any kind is 

 necessary, and the risk of loss is reduced to a minimum. It 

 is, however, generally resorted to as a means of increasing 

 such plants as cannot readily be raised from cuttings, and 

 applies with greatest force to the rhododendrons and 

 azaleas, the magnolias, coniferae of various kinds, and 

 several species of our hardy deciduous trees. 



The operation of layering is very simple, and consists 

 merely in bending down the outer branch of a tree or shrub 

 and bringing it in contact with the soil, it being there held 

 in position by means of a hooked peg. Before fastening the 

 layer with the peg, it is well, however, to remove a portion 

 of the bark from that part of the layer that is to be brought 

 in contact with the ground, this arresting the flow of sap 

 and hastening the formation of roots. The soil beneath 

 the tree or shrub should be first loosened, and, if found hard 

 and stiff, a small quantity of sand and leaf soil might with 



