THE GREEN-HOUSE. 



199 



Jittle sand : this they cover with moss, or several folds 

 of cloth, and the whole is firmly tied to the shoot 

 with cords or shreds of the bark of elm or lime. A 

 strong stick is next inserted in the ground, and to 

 this the shoot and ball of enveloped soil is tied to keep 

 the whole secure ; and lastly, a porous earthenware 

 vessel is supported by this stick, so as to hang over 

 the ball; and this being filled with water, a few 

 drops per day ooze through the sides of the vessel, 

 collect on its bottom, and then drop on the ball. 

 When the water gets low a fresh supply is added, 

 and this is all the culture required till the roots are 

 observed, on unfolding the envelope, to have pierced 

 the mould, when the shoot is cut off with the ball, the 

 moss or cloth taken off, and the plant, with the ball 

 undisturbed, planted in a pot or in the open soil ac- 

 cording to the kind. Rooting generally takes place 

 in six months, but with some species a year is 

 required. 



The next mode, which is for the purpose of pro- 

 curing dwarf forest trees, is to fix on a handsome 

 branch of a tree, in full bearing of fruit, cones, or 

 seeds ; then at a convenient part free from side 

 branches, where it may be from one to two inches in 

 diameter, cut off a ring of bark, and proceed exactly 

 as in the other case. This branch will sometimes, as 

 in the case of the resinous tribe, require two or three 

 years to root; but that being effected, the branch is 

 cut off and potted, and is considered a great curiosity. 



