952 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



cut quite through, and consequently the sap is stopped on its 

 return. The whole is buried well in the ground in such a 



manner that the cut 

 portion remains in 

 a moist condition. 



TONGUEING. — 



This mode of layer- 

 ing is widely prac- 

 tised. An incision 

 is made partly 

 through the branch 

 lengthwise, and 

 varies in size ac- 

 cording to the 

 dimensions of the 

 layer {see Fig. 



A peg is fixed above the incision, and soil inserted 

 the tongue and the stem. This method is chiefly 

 to for Carnations (Fig. 619). In the case of hard- 



FiG. 618. — Layering (a) by Toxgueing, or 

 Heeling, and (b) by Ringing. 



618, a). 

 between 

 resorted 



KiG. 619. — Layered Carnatk^n Shoot. 



wooded subjects, it would be necessary to put a wedge in the 

 cut to keep it open. 



Piercing is another simple and ordinary way of layering. 

 Like all other underground methods, the selected layer is bent 

 downwards, and the under part of it, forming the base of the 

 curve (as shown in Fig. 620), is cut or punctured with a sharp 

 knife. There should not be any bruises, the cut being made 

 quite cleanly to prevent decomposition. jNIany growers prefer to 

 remove a notch or eye found at the base of the layer as shown 



