ROCK GARDENS

Rock, Marsh, Shrubs in the Garden
Plants 13

It is usual to layer several shoots at a time, and when the cuts have been made, as described above, the earth all round the plant is stirred up to a depth of three inches and the layers are pegged down firmly, so that the open tongues come well in contact with the soil. Little mounds of earth some two to four inches high are then piled up over the layers, which are pressed firmly down into the earth, and well watered. An addition of sharp silver sand to the soil (often in the pro-portion of fifty per cent. of its volume), as in the case of cuttings, helps the layers to root. The outer end of the shoot, beyond the cut, should be Propagation by leaf-cuttings is a very interesting method, not often resorted to, and then only in the case of plants with succulent or thick, spongy leaves, and soft veins. A good healthy leaf is taken and planted stalk downwards in a propagating case in a compost made up of equal parts of sandy loam and leaf-mould well mixed together. The whole leaf is then pinned firmly underside-down, so that it cannot move, on to the mould in the propagating case (temperature 60° F.), and is allowed plenty of moisture, though the bed must be well drained and not be permitted to become stagnant, or the leaves will rot. In 'a short time little plants will grow. These can be transplanted or potted up as soon as they have roots strong enough to support them. This method of propagation, which may be resorted to at any season when fully-matured leaves are available, is particularly suitable in the case of such plants as Ramonda pyrenaica, Ramonda Nathaliae, etc. Hard-wooded plants which are difficult to propagate by other methods may be increased by a process known as ringing, and which consists in removing a small narrow ring of bark all round the stem in the place in which the formation of roots is desired. Care must be taken not to cut deeply into the stem-indeed, it is better to peel off the outer bark only, and not to cut into the inner wood at all; no hindrance is then offered to the ascent of the sap. A callus is formed on the bark which forms the upper edge of the ring, and this thickens as time goes on, and ultimately, on contact with the soil, emits roots. Branches and trailing stems operated on in this way should be firmly pegged down, and earth should be drawn over the incision. Layers should be brought into as erect a position as possible, and they may be shortened back. (See also paragraph on their roots as entire as possible, that is, with a good "ball" of earth round the fibers. This is done by inserting two forks vertically downwards, one on either side of the plant and backs facing each other, and then by levering the clump and its roots gently upwards.

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