PROPAGATION 31 



grafting, but a little practice will render it an easy task. The best 

 time for the work is after the plants have completed most of their 

 growth, but before they approach the dormant stage. When done 

 during the late Summer, all that is necessary to accomplish the 

 first season is to secure a union. The bud remains dormant until 

 the following Spring. There are several methods; that most com- 

 monly practiced, shield budding, consists of making a cross cut 

 through the bark of the stem of the stock. It should never be 

 greater than for one-third of the circumference. From the center 

 of the cross cut make a longitudinal cut downward ; raise the bark 

 sufficiently in the angles of the cut parts; this is best accomplished 

 with a finely prepared quill. The stock is now ready for the recep- 

 tion of the bud ; this is taken usually from a branch smaller in cir- 

 cumference than the stock. It must necessarily be from the current 

 year's wood, and the bud should be from the central part of the 

 shoot. Cut the leaf away, but not too near the bud, and with a 

 sharp, clean knife slice the bud from the shoot. It is immaterial if 

 a little of the wood be taken with the bark, but the length of bark 

 should be greater below the bud than above. The top part should be 

 cut off transversely one-third of an inch above the bud and double 

 that distance below. After the bud has been placed in position, tie 

 moderately firm with raffia, examining it from time to time to pre- 

 vent the raffia from cutting into the bark. Budding is usually per- 

 formed during the latter part of Summer. 



LAYERING. This operation is on the same principle as that 

 of mossing Rubber plants and Crotons, that is, producing roots on 

 the branches while yet attached to the parent plant. It is exceed- 

 ingly simple when done correctly, but some of the little details left 

 out, or performed the wrong way, wiU render the operation unsuc- 

 cessful. An expert, with shrubs amenable to this method of increase, 

 will seldom lose a layer. Briefly stated, the operation consists of 

 bending a branch low enough so that after it has been notched, 

 tongued or ringed, as the case may be, the part so treated should be 

 several inches beneath the surface of the soil, so as to throw out 

 roots, while being at the same time supplied with nourishment from 

 the parent plant. It is a convenient method of rooting large pieces 

 of a bush, and should be practiced where small quantities of certain 

 things are desired, especially those which are difficult to increase 

 by other methods of propagation. In layering it is necessary to 

 select branches near the ground, so that they can be bent down 

 without breaking. To perform the operation by tonguing, with a 



