34 



to be done, is to clear and dry up the ground round the tree or 

 plant you propose to take layers from ; then gently bend down the 

 branch, after having cleared it of all superfluous shoots, and lay ib 

 in the ground about six inches deep, leaving the top uncovered 

 then put a stone on the earth that covers the shoot, sufficiently 

 large to keep it in its place : wooden pegs are not so serviceable, 

 from being apt to get loose from the mode of irrigation pursued in 

 India, the white ants also generally destroy them. Should the 

 branch be so high, or so strong, as not easily to be bent down, it 

 may be necessary to cut a notch in it, in a sloping direction, so as 

 to make it bend more easily ; then split the stem with a knife, 

 towards a bud in that part of the branch which is laid in the 

 ground ; this promotes its throwing out fibres, and therefore should 

 be attended to. It is advisable not to remove the layer until it 

 has been separated from the parent stock for a fortnight or more. 



PROPAGATING BY PIPINGS. This me- 

 thod is mostly adopted for the increase 

 of carnations and pinks, and performed 

 in the following manner: take one of 

 the suckers of either the above flowers 

 and divide the top shoot with a knife, 

 just above the third joint; take the 

 head of the shoot between the finger 

 and thumb of one hand, and with the 

 other hold the lower part of the shoot 

 between a pair of leaves ; then pulling 



the head of the shoot gently it will readily come out of the socket 

 hence it is called the piping. These pipings are to be inserted in 

 finely prepared earth, to the depth of the first joint or pipe. 



PRUNING consists in removing all superfluous branches either 

 for the purpose of increasing the fruit, enlarging the tree, making 

 it bear better, and more regular in its appearance. Though an 

 operationin general practice, it is nevertheless properly understood 

 by few, and is only to be acquired by practice and observation, 

 bearing in mind the various modes in which each tree is disposed 

 to produce its fruit or flower, and being careful to remove such 

 branches and slips only as may be necessary, without disfiguring or 

 injuring the tree. Be careful in removing decayed branches, that 



