PROPAGATION UV IITDS 



-LA^'ERAGE 



67 



ha\ing taken root the canes are cut on each side of a rooted 

 node bearing a shoot. Thus as many i>lants ma^- l)e se- 

 cured as there are shoots. 



100. Chinese or pot layers ( Fig. 58 j, used almost wholly 

 in greenhouse practice, are made on up- 

 right stems which cannot be readily bent 

 as in simple layering or covered at their 

 liases and treated by the mound inethod. 

 It is of special use for re-rooting plants 

 with stems that have become "leggy" 

 (dracffina, oleander, croton, rhododen- 

 dron, rubber plant, pandanus). It is also 

 of service in making the branches of 

 such plants take root. 



HOMEMADE 

 LAYERING POT 



W'hile still growing in 

 their natural position, the 

 stems are wounded, usualh^ 

 by girdling or notching, and 

 bound with earth, moss or 

 some other moisture-holding 

 material held in place with 

 raffia or cloth bands. Until 

 roots have developed, the 

 bandage and its contents are 

 kept moist by watering 

 when necessary — an eas}- 

 matter in a greenhouse. 

 Roots push out from the 

 upper side of the girdle or 

 notch. As soon as they have 

 filled the ball of moss the 

 stem is se^'ered below the 

 wound and planted usuallv 

 in a flower pot. Sometimes 

 the leafage is reduced, as in 



FIG. 58 — CHINESE LAYERS 

 A fa\'orite way to increase crotons. 



