96 ROOTS 



87. ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION 



The propagation of plants by cuttings was presented in 

 the previous Experiment. There are other ways of pro- 

 ducing plants artificially. 



Object. To learn how plants may be propagated by 



layering. 



Method. Select a shrub growing in the garden. Rose 



bushes and currant bushes are good for the purpose. Choose 



a long branch which 

 can be bent over 

 without breaking and 

 remove a portion of 

 bark from the lower 

 side where it will 

 touch the ground. 



Lay the wounded 

 EIG. 37. A layer. 



surface upon the 



ground, put a small amount of soil upon the branch, and 

 place a stone upon it to hold it in place. Pegs or staples 

 may also be used for the purpose. 



After a few weeks cut the connection between the layer 

 and the parent plant. If examined, roots will be found 

 about the wound, and the layer will have become a separate 

 plant. 



In a similar way plants may be layered from one flower- 

 pot to another. Periwinkle, which is propagated with dif- 

 ficulty by cuttings, can be easily grown in this way. 



Queries. How does the creeping buttercup propagate 

 itself? 



How does witch grass spread ? Why does cutting off 

 such plants with a lawn mower not exterminate them? 



