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it has been inserted to a point slightly above the bud so as to cause 
it to " break ” and form the future tree. Under favourable con- 
ditions it is a very simple process. 
A T-shaped incision is made in the bark of the stock t e cros ^ 
cut or head of the T being either at the top or the bottom. It at 
the bottom it is then termed inverted shield budding and the bud 
is pushed into position upwards instead of downwards, the eye or 
bud of course pointing upwards in either case. With a sharp knite 
a single bud is cut from a young branch k of the tree it js in- 
tended to propagate with a portion of the wood attached, the latter 
being generally removed before the bud is inserted in the T -shape 
incision in the stock. It is then carefully bandaged with some 
soft string and the operation is complete. 1 he important condi- 
tions necessary to success are that the wood that attaches to t le 
bud when cut separates easily from the bark, and that the 3ar o. 
the stock is easily raised for the insertion of the bud. A specia 
knife with a thin'bone or ivory handle is necessary for this work. 
Layers. 
Layering is a method of propagation that succeeds in many cases 
when other means fail and is best adopted to plants having shoots 
near the ground. It consists of laying down the branch of the plan , 
to be increased, in the soil, and pegging it firmly m position until 
roots are emitted, and then separating it from the parent. I o induce 
or hasten the production of roots the branch is generally cut, twisted, 
or in some manner fractured, at the point where it is desired to 
produce roots. A mixture of light sandy soil is also placed at tie 
same point to encourage the production of roots which may appear 
in a few days or after the lapse ol some months, the period de- 
pending entirely on the nature of the plant. 
Division. 
To such plants as it is adapted, root division is an effectual^ and 
rapid way of multiplication. In most cases it is advisable to lift 
the whole plant to be propagated entirely out of the ground and 
divide it first in half, and to continue halving these portions again 
until the most that is possible has been made out of them, or the 
. desired number of plants obtained. By this means better rooted 
pieces are obtained than by breaking away small bits from the 
outside. “ Ramie” (Boehmeria nivea), and the common hedge 
bamboos, (bambusa nana), also cannas, are examples of plants best 
propagated by division. In cases where it is desired to leave tie 
main portion of the plant intact portions may be removed from the 
sides without lifting the whole, but if the object is to propagate as 
many as possible the method above indicated is the best. As 
each piece should have more or less roots, with ordinary care and 
favourable weather, almost every one should grow. The best time 
for performing the operation is at the beginning of the rains if that 
period can be ascertained but in this region the seasons are not 
well defined and practically it may be done at any time provided 
attention is paid to watering and shading until new roots com- 
mence to form. In Penang the greatest rainfall is from May to 
