196 Principles of Plant Culture. 



349. Propagation by Layers or Layering. The 

 layer is an artificial stolon, i. e., a branch that does not 

 naturally grow downward, which is covered with or 

 surrounded by moist soil to stimulate the production of 

 roots (88). The branch may be bent down and cov- 

 ered, as is usually practiced with the grape, wistaria, 

 etc., or the soil may be ridged up about the branch, as 

 is done with the quince and paradise apple. In either 



case the terminal portion of 

 the stem is commonly left 

 uncovered. In the latter 

 method, which is known as 

 mound-layering, (Fig. 84) , 

 the stems of the plant to be 

 layered are usually cut off 



Fig. 84. Mound-layering of just above the SUrface of 

 gooseberry plants. (After Bal- 

 lsy-) the ground in early spring, 



to stimulate the formation of vigorous shoots, which 

 are ridged up about midsummer or preferably not until 

 the succeeding fall or spring. The ridging should be 

 sufficiently high to cover several of the lower nodes 

 (115). Roots grow out at the nodes and the shoots are 

 usually well rooted by the autumn following the ridging. 

 Many woody plants that do not readily form roots 

 when layered, may be induced to do so by. mutilating 

 the stem somewhat in the covered part. This tends to 

 restrict the growth current (79) and causes accu- 

 mulation of reserve food, from which roots may grow. 

 Girdling, twisting, bending or splitting the stem for a 

 short distance will often have the desired effect 

 (Fig. 85). 



