THE LITCHI AND ITS RELATIVES 321 



is meager, and too apt to be characterized by the generalities 

 of the Hindu horticulturist : " Too much manure should not 

 be applied to newly planted or small trees. As the tree 

 flourishes, more and more manure should be applied," writes 

 one of them, in a treatise on litchi-culture. The literature of 

 tropical pomology is burdened with information of this nature, 

 and the need is for more specific data based on experience. 



Propagation. 



Propagation of the litchi is commonly effected by two means : 

 seed, and air-layering (known in India as guti). Higgins writes 

 on this subject : 



" As seeds do not reproduce the variety from which they have been 

 taken, and as the seedlings are of rather slow growth and require 

 many years to come into bearing, it has for many years been the custom 

 in China, the land of the litchi, to propagate the best varieties by layer- 

 ing or by air-layering, a process which has come to be known as 

 4 Chinese layering' and is applied to many kinds of plants. In air- 

 layering, a branch is surrounded with soil until roots have formed, after 

 which it is removed, and established as a new tree. In applying the 

 method to the litchi, a branch from f to 1 inches in diameter is 

 wounded by the complete removal of a ring of bark just below a bud, 

 where it is desired to have the roots start. The cut is usually sur- 

 rounded by soil held in place by a heavy wrapping of burlap or similar 

 material, although sometimes a box is elevated into the tree for this 

 purpose. Several ingenious devices have been made to supply the soil 

 with constant moisture. Sometimes a can with a very small opening 

 in the bottom is suspended above the soil and filled with water which 

 passes out drop by drop into the soil. Again, sometimes the water is 

 conducted, from a can or other vessel placed above the soil, by means 

 of a loosely woven rope, one end of which is placed in the water, the 

 other on the soil, the water passing over by capillarity. 



" Air-layering is commenced at about the beginning of the season of 

 most active growth, and several months are required for the establish- 

 ment of a root system sufficient to support an independent tree. 

 When a good ball of roots has formed, the branch is cut off below 

 the soil, or the box, after which it is generally placed in a larger box 

 or tub to become more firmly established before being set out per- 

 manently. At first it is well to provide some shade and protection 

 from the wind, and it is often necessary to cut back the top of the 

 branch severely, so as to secure a proper proportion of stem to root." 



Y 



