FRUIT CULTURE. 



1093 



Figs. 1489. 1490. 

 Cleft-grafting. 



1491. 



of the budding-knife, and the bud is inserted be- 

 tween them (Fig. 1481) ; the upper end of the bark 

 attached to the bud is cut square, to fit the hori- 

 zontal cut on the stock ; the basswbod string is then 

 wound around lightly from the bottom, 

 leaving the bud and the leaf-stalk un- 

 covered (Fig. 1482) ; and the string is 

 finally fastened above the horizontal cut. 



LAYERING. 



Bending a flexible branch toWard the 

 humid soil, the gardener maintains it in 

 position by pegging it down to the ground 

 and keeping it in that position until it 

 has thrown out its roots. These roots, 

 as they are developed, manifest all the 

 signs of life, which they contain as fully 

 as the roots of the parent stock. When 

 the roots are sufficiently strong to sup- 

 port the branch, it may be separated 

 from the original , stem, as it no longer needs its support. This 

 process is technically known to fruit-growers as layering, or propa- 

 gation by layers. 



Layering by Elevation. 



In the operation of layering, every branch which it is desired 

 to layer may be neither within reach of the soil nor sufficiently flex- 

 ible to bend to the extent requisite. In such cases the soil must be 

 raised to the branch. To effect this, vases or flower-pots of various 

 forms are employed, which are filled, with earth, and maintained at 

 the necessary hight ; the branch, being placed in it, traverses the. 

 vase in contact with the soil. The soil being maintained in a hu- 

 mid state, the' portion of the branch ip contact with it is not slow to 

 push forth its adventitious roots, which are soon present in sufficient 

 numbers. In due time the branches may be separated from the 

 parent stem, and transplanted elsewhere. This process, which re- 

 quires great expertness to accomplish properly, has received the 

 designation, among horticulturists, of layering by elevation, 



GRAFTING. 



In view of the fact that fruit-growing is attended by so many 

 drawbacks or obstacles in the way of insect pests, droughts, and 

 hard winters, we would recommend' that none but valuable varieties 



