40 



LAYERAGE. 



shrubs may be layered in the fall, either early or late, and 

 if an incision is made, 

 a callus will have 

 formed by spring. If 

 rapid multiplication is 

 desired, the soft and 

 growing shoots may 

 be layered during the 

 summer. This opera- 

 tion is variously known 

 as "summer," "her- 

 baceous," "green" 

 and "soft" layering. 

 Comparatively feeble 

 plants usually result 

 from this practice, and 

 it is not in common 

 favor. 



In glass houses, 



34. Pot-layerage . 



shoots are sometimes layered in pots instead of in the 

 earth ; and the same is often done with strawberries in 

 the field, giving the "pot-grown plants" of the nursery- 

 men. The French have "layering-pots,'' with a slot in the 

 side (Fig. 33) for the insertion of the shoot. In one style 

 of pot, the slot extends from the rim down the entire 

 length of the side and half-way across the bottom (Fig. 36.) 

 Pot-layering, circumposition, air-layering and Chinese 

 layering are terms applied to the rooting of rigid stems by 

 means of surrounding them, while in their natural position, 

 with earth or moss, or similar material. The stem is 

 wounded — commonly girdled — and a divided pot or box is 

 placed about it and filled with earth (Fig. 34). The roots 

 start from above the girdle, and when they have filled the 

 pot the stem is severed, headed back, and planted. Pot-lay- 

 ering is practiced almost exclusively in greenhouses, where 

 it is possible to keep the earth uniformly moist. But even 

 there it is advisable to wrap the pot in moss to check 



