A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

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CON 164 CON
they first make their appearance above
ground.
" By placing some small branches
thickly over the beds until the young
plants have thrown off' the old seed-
^' Inarching is another way for in-
creasing the pine tribe, but, like grafting,
only suitable for the propagation
of curious varieties, and is certainly a
more unsightly way than that of cleft-
coat, they may be protected from the grafting, as the stock and scion hardly
ravages of birds ; if attacked by mice, ever unite to cover the old heel, when
traps must be set for catching them, as separated from the mother plant.
the only safe mode of preventing such " This operation may be performed
pests; and if subject to be eaten by either with the last year's or the pre-
slugs, some wood-ashes should be ceding year's wood, but the former is
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sown over the beds just as the young by far the quickest in taking ; it is best
plants are making their appearance. performed about the same time as graft-
" The seeds of the greater part of ing, but the inarches must not be rethe
pine tribe come up in about six
weeks after sowing in the open border,
moved for two years,
" Layering is certainly one of the
and the most of them will be fit for best modes, where it can be done,
transplanting into nursery-rows the Layering should be performed early in
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first year after sowing; afterwards they
may be treated in the same way as
the spring, before the plant begins to
grow, and in the usual common way,
other forest trees." Gard. Chron.
Grafting, Src—" The pine or fir
by slightly tonguing and laying the
shoots in light sandy soil, pegging them
tribe are sometimes increased by graft- securely down.
ing or inarching. It is at present little " They will require two years to
practised, and when it is so, only as a root, but it should be observed, that
means of propagating some of the curi- in layering, the whole plant must be
ous varieties ofthe propersection Pinus, layered, as it is very uncertain if only
which are the most difficult and uncer- the bottom branches are so done, as
tain to strike from cuttings. Procure these frequently die after the operation
some good healthy young plants of the if the upper ones are left on : therefore
common kinds, of the same section to the whole plant should be bent down,
which the sort to be increased belongs or the head cut off",
in pots ; if it is to the robust two-leaved " Pines and firs should be planted in
section, such as the Pinaster or Stone the open ground, about the end of April,
Pine, procure them for the stocks : if to
the Weymouth or Scotch, procure thom,
but they will take on the common Scotch
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if they are rare or tender kinds : but if
hardy and common ones, the end of
February is best.
Fir. If the species or variety belongs " The Soil most suitable for them is
to the Spruce or silver tribe, procure a light sandy loam, on a dry subsoil;
such for stocks ; if it belongs to the ce- but they will all grow in almost any
dar or larch section, the common larch soil that is not overcharged with water,
will do, bearing in mind that the species or too poor, if encouraged at first by
intended to be united should be as mixing a little sandy loam andleaf mould
nearly related as possible ; for although with the common earth, when planting
the true Pinus may be worked on a them where they are permanently to
larch stock, they will soon perish. The remain.
operation is performed on the current " In planting, the roots should be
year's growth by clefl grafting, (and spread out as much as possible, and
always in the leading shoot, shortening kept near the surface, leaving the plant
several of the side shoots at the time,)
or by splitting the stock down the cen-
a little elevated on a small mound, if
the adjoining ground is level, but if on
tre after the head is removed sufficiently
deep for receiving the scion, which
a declivity, it is of no consequence.
" When planted, they should be well
must be cut wedge-shaped, to fit. watered, not immediately at the roots,
The time of performing the opera- but for a yard or two all round, and
tion is when the young shoots are about then a few spruce fir or other branches
half-grown, and are brittle with the should be stuck round, to break off" tiie
stock ; the operation is done in the sun's rays, and the winds ; if they are
usual way afterwards, by tying, and ex- tender they should have a large iiandcluding
the air. glass over them for the first winter,
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