94 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



Layering. 



Layering is very much nature's way. She does it quite openly. 

 To get a plant on its own roots is a very good way and in some cases, 

 if not the only way, it is the best and most practical way. Rhodo- 

 dendrons cannot very well be rooted from cuttings. I do not say 

 it is impossible, for what one cannot do another may, but for most 

 people it is impracticable to root Rhododendrons from cuttings. 

 They can be layered though it may take two years to do it. Layer- 

 ing for Rhododendrons is in my opinion best for this country and 

 in the opinion of one noted grower best for any country. 



In foreign countries the most easily workable stock for grafting 

 Rhododendrons is Ponticum, a plant of uncertain hardiness in 

 itself here. It is well enough to use it for a stock if grafted low 

 enough so that the cion gets on its own roots, but uncertain and 

 short-lived as a stock. The result is when we import Rhododen- 

 drons unless we get layered plants we get something not dependable. 



As a rule plants that will not layer are difficult to root from 

 cuttings. I have never seen Pines, Hemlocks, or Firs layer natu- 

 rally, or even artificially, nor have I been able to root them from 

 cuttings. As I said before nature often shows the way and we 

 frequently find Hydrangeas, Loniceras, Deutzias, Forsythias, 

 Viburnums, Currants, Gooseberries, and Grape vines rooting 

 wherever they happen to strike the ground. With this hint man 

 goes nature one better by making cuts in the stem, bending the 

 branch to the soil and covering it with prepared loam. 



Formerly Carnations were rooted mostly by layering. We had 

 not become acquainted with the expeditious methods now in use 

 in this country where they are rooted by tens of thousands from 

 cuttings. 



Grafting. 



Grafting has been said by one notable authority to be a makeshift 

 at best. I will not venture to disagree Avith that authority. It is 

 a valuable makeshift nevertheless. In this, as in all other methods 

 of propagation, nature has shown the way and examples of natural 



