FOREST-TREES. 233 



Some tye a piece of wire hard, round the twig, at that part 

 where the roots are delired, and prick it above the wire, through 

 the bark with an aul, in feveral places. 



Where the wood is very hard and unwilling to root, the 

 branches are fometimes cut by a flit upwards from a joint, as is 

 pra(?cifed in laying Pinks and Carnations, which is called by 

 the gardeners tonguing the layers : But this feverity I would fel- 

 dom chufe to pradtife, as trees difpofed to root by layers at all, 

 may be prevailed on to do fo by gentler means, when thefe means 

 are fkilfully applied. The plants raifed in that manner, are long 

 of recovering their wounds, and not only very apt to be torn 

 afunder at taking them from their mother, but for a long time 

 after on removing them. 



Twisting the place you defignto peg down into the ground 

 is often done, but with feveral kinds of hard wood it does not 

 anfwer properly ; with all the foft kinds it is an excellent practice. 



There are other different operations performed in laying 

 trees ; but the fpecimens given are the beft I know, but one, 

 which, though very fimple,. I have fuccefsfully pracflifed during 

 the greatefi: part of my life, and that is, fcratching off the bark 

 as deep as the wood, where the roots are wanted, about two or 

 three inches in length, and tw^o thirds round in ftout branches, 

 or lefs in finall ones.. 



Having treated the branches in one or other of the ways de- 

 fcribed, proceed to putting them in the ground, by pee:ging 

 down that part where you have made any inciiion, and v^'ith 

 both your hands prefTmg it into the earth, till it become fharp 



