44 CUTTINGS AND LAYERINGS 



Management after Rooting.— For best results the cuttings are 

 watched closely during the rooting period, and as soon as they 

 establish plenty of root surface they are lifted out with a small 

 portion of the sand or soil adhering to them. They are then potted 

 or transplanted to beds or boxes. Good garden soil containing 

 plenty of black loam is best for them at this time. They are then 

 kept well watered and given other good conditions to force the 

 growth somewhat rapidly. 



PROPAGATION BY LAYERING 



When plants are propagated by layering they are certain to 

 produce the same kind as the parent plant, as they are really a 

 part of it. They are also. much more certain to grow than in the 

 case of cuttings because they remain attached to the parent plant 

 and may obtain circulation and nourishment from it until new 

 roots are formed at the point of layering. 



There are several kinds of layering: (1) vine layering, (2) 

 mound layering, (3) tip layering, (4) pot layering. 



Vine Layering. — A great many vines may be propagated by 

 layering. Among these are the different varieties of grapes, cle- 

 matis, and Virginia creeper. There are two types of vine layering, 

 one called the serpentine form, in which the vine touches the ground 

 at several points, but is bent into the air between these points. 

 The second type is simple vine layering. (Fig. 29). The vine is 

 somewhat covered with earth throughout its whole length and may 

 send up buds at the nodes and send down roots at any point along 

 the stem. In the serpentine layering roots are formed at the points 

 where the vine is covered with soil, and the stem in the air serves 

 as a shoot without the formation of a new shoot. In either of the 

 types the parent vine is cut in parts between the points of rooting, 

 and each part will form a separate plant. 



Rooting and Transplanting. — The vines used for layering 

 should be vigorous and well supplied with nourishment. They are 

 best started during the height of the growing season, which is after 

 the spring growth is well started. At least there must be enough 

 time left during the summer for the plants to root well before 

 autumn. The new plants may be taken up either during that 

 autumn or early the following spring. They are transplanted to 

 their new locations and given the same care that is required for 

 good growth of shrubs and trees. 



