PROPAGATION. 33 



CHAPTER HI. 



PROPAGATION. 



'TPHB propagation of Rhododendrons is by no 

 -^ means difficult, although as yet it has been 

 little attempted in this country. Old and approved 

 varieties are increased by layers, cuttings, grafting, 

 or inarching ; and new varieties are obtained from 

 seed. 



These various processes differ in no degree in tlie 

 case of this plant from the ordinary methods ; but 

 we will describe them briefly. 



LAYERS. 



By this means the best plants are raised, and it is 

 the usual mode in England for propagating in large 

 quantities approved varieties. 



In its native swamps the Rhododendron roots 

 readily wherever the branches bend to the ground, 

 and become covered with soil or a debris of moist 

 leaves. 



In our own garden we have often obtained fine 

 plants from branches which had by chance been^ 

 covered by the earth of the bed or by the tan mulch, 

 roots being very freely produced where the natural 

 sufficiency of moisture is afforded. 



We have only to bend the branch to the ground, to 



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