290 THE NURSERY. [March. 
necessary, leaving the end of the layer a foot or a foot and a half, 
or more if the twig be young and healthy, out of the ground, with 
its head as erect as possible^ keep them moist during the summer 
season, and if of a free rooting kind, they will take root and be fit 
to be taken ofl' and removed in the autumn or spring following, if 
not, they must remain another season. 
2. Tie a piece of wire tight around the bark of the layer, at the 
place you intend to lay in the ground, and half an inch below a bud; 
twist the ends of the wire, so that they may not untie, as the shoot 
swells, prick the parts above and below the wire with an awl in 
several places, and then lay it in the ground as before directed. 
This method will succeed when the other fails. 
3. Slit the shoot underneath a joint or bud up the middle, and 
about an inch long, or a little better, according to the size and 
nature of the layer, forming a sort of tongue, nearly the same as 
directed for carnation layers; laying that part in the earth and 
raising the top upright, so as thereby to separate the tongue of the 
slit from the other part and keep it open; then apply the earth as 
before. This is the most universally practised and successful 
mode, when any preparation of the shoot is necessary to promote 
its rooting. 
4. Twist the part of the branch intended to be layed in the earth 
as you would a willow twig, this greatly facilitates the emission of 
fibres, and layers of numerous trees and shrubs may be forwarded 
exceedingly in rooting by this method. 
5. Cut the bark nearly all around, a little below a joint or bud, 
taking out small chips thereof in several places below the cut, and 
lay that part in the earth. Some sorts will root more freely by 
this than any other mode. 
6. Thrust an awl through a shoot at a joint in several places, 
laying that part in the earth, and it will emit fibres from the wounds. 
After laying, in either of the above methods, there is no particu- 
lar culture necessary, except in the heat of summer to give occa- 
sional waterings to keep the earth moist about the layers, which 
will greatly promote their rooting, and which if effected the first 
season, they should be taken off in the autumn or spring following. 
Additional Observations on Planting. 
Plants are always most prosperous when propagated by seed, 
which is nature's favourite method. 
Evergreen plants are best fit for transplanting from the seed- 
beds into nursery rows when they have attained the height of from 
four to six inches, and deciduous kinds, when from six to twelve 
inches high. 
Layers should not be suffered to remain on the mother plants 
longer than until sufficiently rooted, which will be effected by some 
in six or seven months, if laid in spring; by the far greater number 
in one year, and by others, not in less than two or three. 
Tonguing or twisting the layers, &c. is necessary for such kinds 
as do not strike freely, but not for those that do. 
