OF PROPAGATION BY LAYERS AND SUCKERS. 207 



his cuttings from too much light, and at the same 

 time to give them enough to enable them to perform 

 their digestive functions steadily, there can be little 

 doubt that transparent glass is inferior to that of ano- 

 ther colour. 



CHAPTEE XI. 

 OF PROPAGATION BY LAYERS AND SUCKERS. 



With regard to layers, there is but little which it 

 is necessary to say regarding them, if what has been 

 stated respecting eyes, leaves, and cuttings, has been 

 rightly understood and well considered. A layer is a 

 branch bent into the earth, and half cut through at 

 the bend, the free portion of the wound being called 

 "a tongue." It is, in fact, a cutting only partially se- 

 parated from its parent. 



The object of the gardener is to induce the layer to 

 emit roots into the earth at the tongue. With this 

 view he twists the shoot half round, so as to injure 

 the wood- vessels ; he heads it back so that only a bud 

 or two appears above ground ; and, when much nicety 

 is requisite, he places a handful of silver sand round 

 the tongued part ; then pressing the earth down with 

 his foot, so as to secure the layer, he leaves it without 

 further care. The intention of both tongueing and 

 twisting is to prevent the return of sap from the layer 



