CHAP. III. GOOTEE. 83 



GOOTEE. 



The mode of propagation by Gootee is thus described by Mr. 

 Masters, formerly head gardener in the Calcutta Botanical 

 Gardens : 



" Select a firm healthy branch, the wood of which is well- 

 ripened ; and immediately tinder a leaf-bud take off a small ring of 

 bark, about one inch wide. Scrape the woody part well, so that no 

 bark remains. Apply a ball of well-tempered clay; bind it on 

 securely with tow or other soft bandage ; make it fast to a stake, 

 if necessary ; hang a small pot, having a hole in the bottom, just 

 over the Gootee ; and supply it with water daily. In a few months 

 you will obtain a fine well-rooted plant. 



" As the fibres are emitted from the buds that are above the 

 wound, they will descend into the ball of earth and form roots. As 

 soon as they are seen protruding themselves through the bandage, 

 the branch may be cut off from the parent-tree, and planted where 

 it is intended that it should remain. This appears to be the most 

 expeditious method of obtaining strong well-rooted plants, and, at 

 the same time, is a sure method of procuring duplicates of any 

 desirable variety. Of sixty-five Gootees, made in June, of the 

 Jonesia Asoca, the whole were well rooted in October ; while of 

 forty-five layers made at the same time, and on the same in- 

 dividual tree, none were well rooted, 

 and some only just beginning to form. 

 The Leechee requires four months to 

 form good roots."* 



Unless some precaution be taken, 

 the water in the pot above the 

 Gootee will flow out too fast, and 

 very often not fall upon the Gootee 

 at all. To obviate this, therefore, 

 the following contrivance is com- 

 monly resorted to : 



A piece of rope has a knot tied 

 at one end of it; the other end 

 is passed within the pot and drawn 

 through the hole at its bottom till 

 the knot is brought down to fall L 



upon and close up the hole. The 

 rope, thus secured by its knotted end within the pot, is carried 



* Transcations of the Agri-Hoit. Society/ vol. iii. p. 2, and vol. vi. p. 18. 



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