T R E A T 1 S E an. 



Chapter XXXYIII. 

 On the PROPAGATION of TREES by LAYERS. 



'T^HE manner of preparing mother plants or ftools, from 

 A which you are to propagate trees by layers, has already 

 been dire6led under the article of the Elm Tree. Thefe direcftions^ 

 having been obferved, and ftrong clean ftioats produced, early 

 in Odober begin the operation, with all the hardy deciduous 

 trees that are mofl: proper to be cultivated in that way, and 

 which are mentioned tinder their refpedlive names. In. the firft 

 place, cautioufly bend down all the principal branches around, 

 the ftool, without wounding them, if poiTible, to comply, (tho' 

 often diredled and pradifed) ; let them be at fuch diftances from 

 one another, as to admit all the fmaller collateral fide-branches 

 to be laid between them, and let them be fi'rmdy peg'd down to 

 the ground with hook'd Clicks, as other ways, if the fhoots are 

 ftrong, the prelTure of the earth alone will not prevent their 

 ftarting up again. If the principal fhoots have no fide-branches 

 fit to lay, that is, if they are not about a foot in length, let all 

 under that be pruned clofe away, and the main fhoot be. only laid; 

 all the very fmall twigs from the fide-branches muft likeways 

 be cut clofe, or rub'd off, as the fewer flioots the layers produce, 

 they will be the ftraighter and more vigorous. But before pro- 

 ceeding to cover them, I fliall mention the different ways necef- 

 fary to be pradlifed with the. branches, in order to facilitate their 

 rooting. 



