112 BOTANY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 



the ground is convenient, and the germ soon 

 shoots out. There are several creeping plants, 

 observes De Candolle, which propagate them- 

 selves in this manner without the aid of man. 

 Their lower branches trailing upon the ground, 

 are often partially covered with earth washed 

 over them by rain, and if in the operation they 

 are slightly wounded by friction or the contact 

 of any hard substance, such as gravel, or peb- 

 bles, roots strike out, the connecting branch 

 with the parent, being deprived of nourishment 

 by the rapacity of the young plant, rots and 

 perishes ; the separation being thus made, and 

 the requisite organs developed, the layer becomes 

 a new individual plant. Most Laurels and 

 Evergreens are propagated by layers, which is 

 besides the method used in Yineyards. 



L. It must be somewhat on the same plan 

 that the Banyan Tree has such a number of 

 offsets from it. I can conceive of nothing more 

 simple than the bending of the branches to the 

 ground aiid there taking root, and the branches 

 that arise from them, though still connected with 

 the first tree, sending out others in the same 

 manner, and so forming a forest from a single 

 slip. 



