456 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JUNE 
somewhat more securely anchoring the trees, but on the spruces it 
often stimulated the production of roots from the buried branches 
and caused a circle of young trees to surround the parent (fig. 2). 
Such reproduction in conifers was recently discussed by COoPER,* 
who also gave very complete citations of the scanty literature of the 
subject. The layering habit in Picea mariana has been mentioned 
by Loupon,? for specimens growing under partial cultivation on 
the British Isles, but its importance in increasing the stand upon 
Fic. 6.—A group of young black spruce descended by layering from a single parent 
tree; the remains of the dead parent are concealed by the young trees; Chicoutimi 
County, Queb 
rocky areas seems to have escaped notice. The fact that the 
rate of growth has been found to be very slow in such localities’ 
makes such a method of rapid multiplication and replacement an 
even greater advantage to the species possessing it. Should trees 
* Cooper, W. S., Reproduction by layering among conifers. Bort. Gaz. 52:369- 
379. IQII. 
2Loupon, J. C., Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum. London. 1844. 
3 Cooper, W. S., The climax forest of Isle Royale, Lake Superior, and its develop- 
ment. II. Bor. GAz. 55:115-140. 191 
