56 



PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



or remain attached to the parent stock — drawing suste- 

 nance therefrom until roots are emitted, after which they 

 are detached and become individual plants. In makino* 

 layers of trees or shrubs, we bend down a branch, and 

 cover that portion with earth upon which we wish to 

 produce roots. Fig. 20 sliows a layered branch buried 

 in the soil. An incision is usually made on the under 

 side of the branch before it is laid down, and the knife 

 inserted just below a bud if there is one convenient, pass- 

 ing into the wood, and then an inch or more lengthwise, 

 the branch forming what is termed a tongue, as at a, 

 A hooked peg may be employed to hold the layer in place. 



Fi^. 20.— LAYER. 



c, or a stone laid on it, as it is quite important the 

 branch should be held firm in jDlace. If the branch is 

 large, the end may be tied up to a stake, as shown at 1, 

 It is not often that forest trees, except some ornamental 

 varieties, are propagated in this way, but it is well enough 

 to know how to do it, when necessary to increase the 

 stock of some choice or rare specimen. Layers may be 

 made at almost any season, but they will root sooner if 

 made when the trees are growing rapidly, than at any 

 other time. 



Some kinds of trees will produce roots when layered 



