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THose sorts of Trees which will grow of Cuttings, are the easiest to raise by Layings, some of which sorts you may see in the next Chapter.
Now touching the best time for laying your Layers of Trees▪ observe, that if they be Trees that hold their Leaf all Winter, as Firres, Pines, Holly, Yew, Box, Bayes, Lawrels, Elix, &c. Let such be laid about the latter end of August.
But if they be such as shed their Leaf in Winter, as Oak, Elm, Line, Sycamore, Apple, Pear, Mulberry, &c. let such be laid about the middle of October. I do grant that you may lay at any time of the Year, but these times I take to be the best; for then they have the whole VVinter and Summer to prepare and draw Root in, at that time of the year the Sun having so much power on the sap of the Tree, as to feed the Leaf and Bud, but not to make a shoot: and if that little sap that rises, be hindred, as it is by some of the following wayes of laying, the Leaves and Buds yet gently craving of the Layer, makes the Layer prepare for Root, or put forth root a little to maintain it self, being it finds it can∣not have it from the Mother-plant: and being it wants but little Nou∣rishment at that time of the Year, I think it is better to lay Layers of Trees, and to set Cuttings, than at other times: In Summer when the sap is much abounding, or in VVinter when the sap stirres little, or in the Spring when the sap begins to rise; for then it comes too suddenly to draw sap from the Layer before it hath drawn or prepared for root: for Nature must be courted gently; though I know in small Plants, the Spring or Summer doth very well, for they being short-lived, are there∣fore the quicker in drawing root: and besides that, Trees are many times laid, as they are not.
As for those Trees that are apt to grow of Cuttings, take but some of the boughs, and lay them into the Ground, covering them about half a foot with fresh fine Mould, leaving them with the end of your Layer a∣bout one foot, or a foot and a half out of the ground, keeping them moist in Summer; and in Twelve Months time you may remove them if root∣ed, if not, let them lie longer.
Another way is, take a Bough you intend to lay, and cut it half way through right cross the wood, then slit it up towards the end, half a foot, or according as your Layer is in bigness, lay the slitted place into the ground, and you shall find that slitted place take root, if laid as the former, and so ordered. This way you may encrease many fine Flow∣ers and small Plants, but they being out of my Element at this time, I shall not speak of the ordering them, for fear I seem tedious to some.
Another way to lay a Layer of a Tree, is, take a piece of VVyer, and tie it hard round the bark of the place you intend to lay into the ground, twisting the ends of the VVier that it may not untie: prick the
place above the VVier thorough the bark with an Aul in several places, then lay it into the ground as the first.
A fourth way of Laying of trees, is, Cut a place round, about one Inch or two, where you find it most convenient to lay into the ground, and so proceed as is shewed in the first way of Laying.
A Fifth way to lay some sorts of Trees, is, to twist the place you in∣tend to lay into the ground as you do a withe, and lay it as is shewed in the first way of Laying; by this way and the first, you may furnish your Woods and Hedges: For they being easie, any ordinary man will per∣form the same. Thus you may from one Stub, as a Sallow, or the like, between one Fall and another of your VVood, for a Rod square of Ground and more, (if that one Stub produce but strong shoots) fill it well with Wood: For when the Stub hath got two or three years shoot, then lay round it, as before at large is shewed, there letting them re∣main to produce new Stubs.
But if you would increase by laying some young Trees from an high Standard, whence you cannot bend the boughs down to the ground, then you must prepare either Box, Basket, or Pot, and fill them full of fine sifted Mould, putting a little rotten VVillow-dust with this Earth, for that keeps Moysture to help the Layer to draw root; then set the Pot or Box thus fill'd with Earth, upon some Tressel or Post, as your Inge∣nuity will direct you, then lay your Bough by the second, third, or fourth way of Laying, leaving not too much head out, because the wind will offend it if you doe; and by its own motion be likely to rub off the ten∣der young Root; and thus lay your Hops this way. These things ob∣served, you may raise many choyse Trees, as Mulberry, Hors-Ches∣nut, &c.
These Rules may instruct you sufficiently concerning the propagation of Trees by Laying; but let me tell you, it is hard to raise a fine straight Tree by a Layer, or Cutting: I have hinted at the Reasons before.
Note, the smaller your Boughs be, Set them the less out of the ground, and keep them clean from VVeeds, that they spoyl not your Layers.
Alsonote, that the harder the VVood is, then the young VVood will take root best, laid in the ground; but if a soft VVood, then older boughs will take Root best: Now you that be Lovers of wood, make use of these sure Directions, and if you repent, then blame me.