nature of the soil; but in all cases, it should be so far below the surface, as that its roots may escape the instrument of the workman. If it has succeeded well, its connection with the parent stick may be dissolved towards the end of summmer. Its remaining too long connected with the parent stock proves injurious to it, as may be seen by its casting its leaves earlier in the ensuing season, than the neighbouring plants. Indeed, this practice is much condemned, and it is recommended, that instead of one shoot being laid, the whole stock should be converted into a layer to furnish young plants. A trench, from sixteen to twenty inches in depth, is made close up to the foot of the stock, and the intervening roots being detached, it is laid horizontally into it, the shoots or branches being dressed against the sides of it, and covered with soil, some fresh mould being generally added. А great number of young plants is thus procured, which may be planted in vacant spaces, without danger of being choked by the roots and branches of the surrounding plants, as would be too generally the case, were cutting employed. It is recommended, that the support given to the young plant should be of old wood, from which the bark is detached; poles of osier, or other young wood, nourish within their bark swarms of insects, and sometimes take root, and are injurous to the roots
