38 



LAYERAGE. 



root readily, and in order to facilitate rooting, the branch is 

 wounded at the point where it is desired that roots shall 

 form. This wounding serves to induce formation of adven- 



ji. CatJiallun layer (xH)- 



titious buds at that point, and to check the growth of the 

 branch at the tip. It is a common practice to cut the branch 

 about half in two obliquely, on the lower side. This ope- 

 ration is known as "tongueing." "Ringing" or girdling, 

 twisting, notching, and various other methods are employed, 

 none of which, perhaps, possess any peculiar advantages in 

 general practice. Some propagators cut all the buds from 

 the covered portion. In this case the free and protruding 

 end of the layer is expected to form the top of the new 

 plant. " Arching," or very abrupt bending, as in serpentine 

 layering, serves the same purpose and is the only attention 

 necessary in most vines. A "tongued" carnation layer is 

 shown in Fig. 31. The layered stem is at S, and the root is 

 seen to have formed from the tongue. This method of 

 propagating carnations is common in Europe, but the plant 

 is always grown from cuttings in America. 



