Jan.] THE NURSERY. 61 
layed; for these will put out roots more freely than the branches that 
are a year or two older. Observing farther, that many of the shrub 
kinds branching out near the earth, afford an opportunity of lay- 
ing them with great facility; but such as run up with tall stems, and 
those of the tree kinds, require that some strong young plants, 
principally deciduous, with stems one, two, or three inches thick, 
be cut down near the ground a year or two before, to form stools 
to furnish a supply of shoots near the earth, convenient for laying 
therein. The ground must be dug about the shrub or tree that is 
to he layed; and as you go on, bring down the branches, and fas- 
ten them in the ground with hooked pegs, observing to lay down 
all the young wood on each branch into the earth, covering there- 
with the body of each layer three or four inches deep, and fasten- 
ing each also with a peg, if necessary; and raise the tops upright 
out of the earth. 
But in laying some hard-wooded trees and shrubs, it is necessary 
to slit the layer, by making a gash with a knife on the under-side, 
slitting it an inch or more upward; so laying that part in the earth, 
keeping the gash a little open, which will greatly assist the rooting, 
by promoting the emission of fibres at the cut part. And this may 
also be performed to the same advantage in the laying of trees and 
shrubs in general. 
Or you may give the young shoot a twist, in that part, which 
you intend laying in the earth, by which method, it will root more 
freely, than if laid down without it. 
Those which are layed in this or next month, will be tolerably 
well rooted by next autumn, and may then be separated from the 
tree, and planted in the nursery to get strength. 
Cuttings of many kinds of flowering shrubs and trees may also 
still be planted; and there are vast numbers of plants that may be 
propagated by this method. There is hardly any tree or shrub but 
what may be increased either by this method, or by layers, or 
suckers from the root. 
But the manner of propagating trees or shrubs by cuttings, is 
this: the cuttings must be young shoots of the last year's growth, 
which must be cut with a sharp knife from the tree or shrub you 
desire to propagate; they must be from about six or eight, to twelve 
or fifteen inches long, according to their strength and manner of 
growth; let them be planted in rows eighteen inches asunder, and 
from five to eight inches distance in the row; and every cutting in- 
serted two thirds of its length into the ground. 
Propagate gooseberries and currants by cuttings, as directed in 
October; and prune such of the old plants as require it, agreeably to 
the directions given in this, and that month. 
In open weather, you should, as much as possible, forward the dig- 
ging and trenching vacant compartments of ground, where young 
trees and shrubs are to be planted in this and next month. 
Now prepare some ground, where it is not wet, for the reception 
of stones and kernels of hardy fruits, to raise a supply of stocks, for 
the purpose of budding and grafting upon. 
