76 



THE NURSERY- MANUAL 



The so-called air-lay 'ers 



Pot-layering, circumposition, air-layering and Chinese layer- 

 ing are terms applied to the rooting of rigid stems by means 

 of surrounding them, while in their natural position, with 

 earth or moss, or similar material. The stem is wounded - 

 commonly girdled and preferably just below a node and a 

 divided pot or box is placed about it and filled with earth 

 (Fig. 67). The roots start from above the girdle, and when 

 they have filled the pot the stem is severed, headed back and 

 planted. Pot-layering is practiced mostly in greenhouses, 

 where it is possible to keep the earth uniformly moist. But 

 even there it is advisable to 

 wrap the pot in moss to check 

 evaporation. Some plants, as 

 Ficus elastica and dracena, can 

 be readily rooted by wrapping 

 them with moss alone, if the 

 atmosphere is sufficiently close; 



FIG. 67. Pot-layerage. 



FIG. 68. A "mossed" dracena plant. 



