The Garden Under Glass

PROPAGATION UNDER GLASS 215 What to Avoid in Layering It is wrong to use the soil too wet, or too dry ; to layer the plants while the ball of the soil is dry ; to use soil con-taining manure ; to allow the shoots to split or sliver at their base ; to neglect to bury the old ball; to break the stem in pressing in the layer ; to set the layer obliquely ; to strip off too much of the foliage ; to neglect to label the plants ; to make so deep a notch that the layer is almost entirely severed ; to give too much ventilation for a start; to neglect syringing and watering, and to fail to pull out those layers which are seen to have withered. Minor Methods of Propagation The notching and mossing of such plants as aralias, Ficus elastica, dracæna and croton has already been alluded to, as also the method of propagation by a bud or eye. This has been shown to be the best method of pro-pagating the vine. Offsets are small bulbs or shoots spring-ing from the base of an older plant. The term is usually applied in reference to tulips, hyacinths, narcissi, freesias, vallotas, etc. These will, if detached with a few roots of their own, soon grow into separate subjects. Though not absolutely necessary, it is a decided advantage that the offsets possess roots before being detached. Division is a very convenient method of increasing stock. It is used in the case of ferns, asparagus, grasses and all plants which have a root-stock furnished with numerous buds. The best time for splitting up is when the plants are not in active growth.