CHAPTER X 



METHODS OF PROPAGATION 



In the Ling Nan region, the home of the lychee, trees are 

 rarely produced from seed. One reason for this is that the seeds of 

 the best varieties are not viable and those that are require 8-12 years 

 to bring the trees into bearing; whereas, by the Chinese method of 

 air layering, fruiting trees are secured in from 3-6 years. Moreover, 

 trees from seed are said not to "come true " with any certainty. 

 And the Chinese consider that in a region where temperature and 

 humidity so greatly faeiliate layering there is little reason to depend 

 upon seedlings. Then, too, seeds of the lychee are very short lived 

 and cannot be kept for more than four or rive days, except under 

 very moist conditions. 



In the propagation of the tree in other lands, however, the 

 seedling method may be advantageous, especially until a large number 

 of trees are at hand. Air. J. E. Higgins in his bulletin 92 cites some 

 interesting experiments with regard to the use of seeds in propagation 

 and to methods for their shipment ever great distances. The writer, 

 following the instructions of the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant 

 Introduction to pack seeds in damp sphagnum moss mixed with 

 ground charcoal, senta number of tin tubesof Huai Chih (Wai Chi; 

 and Hei yeh (Hakip) lychee seeds from Canton to Washington. 

 These arrived in good condition and a number of seedlings were 

 grown from them. The Shan Chih (Shan Chi) or mountain lychee, 

 and these two varieties, are the best for the production of seedlings. 

 No difficulties will be experienced if the grower remembers how 

 quickly these seeds deteriorate, follows the usual methods, partially 

 shades his seedlings, and above all else remembers that the lychee is 

 a water-loving plant which can endure great quantities of moisture 

 both in the air and in the soil. 



Chinese Air-layering 



Most of the lychee trees of South China are produced by a 

 method known as " pok chih" (jgH$)> a process of layering which 

 the modern horticulturist has come to term uhinf.sc Air-layering. 

 This is practically the same as the "Gootee" layering of India. 



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