77 



it has been inserted to a point slightly above the bud so as to cause 

 it to " break " and form the future tree. Under favourable con- 

 ditions it is a very simple process. 



A T-shaped incision is made in the bark of the stock the cross 

 cut or head of the T being either at the top or the bottom. If at 

 the bottom it is then termed inverted shield budding and the bud 

 is pushed into position upwards instead of downwards, the eye or 

 bud of course pointing upwards in either case. With a sharp knife 

 a single bud is cut from a young branch of the tree it is in- 

 tended to propagate with a portion of the wood attached, the latter 

 being generally removed before the bud is inserted in the T-shaped 

 incision in the stock. It is then carefully bandaged with some 

 soft string and the operation is complete. The important condi- 

 tions necessary to success are that the wood that attaches to the 

 bud when cut separates easily from the bark, and that the bark of 

 the stock is easily raised for the insertion of the bud. A special 

 knife with a thin bone or ivory handle is necessary for this work. 



Layers. 



Layering is a method of propagation that succeeds in many cases 

 when other means fail and is best adopted to plants having shoots 

 near the ground. It consists of laying down the branch of the plant, 

 to be increased, in the soil, and pegging it firmly in position until 

 roots are omitted, and then separating it from the parent. To induce 

 or hasten the production of roots the branch is generally cut, twisted, 

 or in some manner fractured, at the point where it is desired to 

 produce roots. A mixture of light sandy soil is also placed at the 

 same point to encourage the production of roots which may appear 

 in a few days or after the lapse of some months, the period de- 

 pending entirely on the nature of the plant. 



Division. 



To such plants as it is adapted, root division is an effectual and 

 rapid way of multiplication. In most cases it is advisable to lift 

 the whole plant to be propagated entirely out of the ground and 

 divide it first in half, and to continue halving these portions again 

 until the most that is possible has been made out of them, or the 

 desired number of plants obtained. By this means better rooted 

 pieces are obtained than by breaking away small bits from the 

 outside. " Ramie" (Boehmeria nivea), and the common hedge 

 bamboos, (bambusa nana), also cannas, are examples of plants best 

 propagated by division. In cases where it is desired to leave the 

 main portion of the plant intact portions may be removed from the 

 sides without lifting the whole, but if the object is to propagate as 

 many as possible the method above indicated is the best. As 

 each piece should have more or less roots, with ordinary care and 

 favourable weather, almost every one should grow. The best time 

 for performing the operation is at the beginning of the rains if that 

 period can be ascertained but in this region the seasons are not 

 well defined and practically it may be done at any time provided 

 attention is paid to watering and shading until new roots com- 

 menee to form. In Penang the greatest rainfall is from May to 



