Jim, just get the plant that you like the least, one that you want NO MORE of and air layer away. You will be successful just because you do not want any more. Basically, that's what I did. Now I have so many BT that I can not give them away.

How could I say no Wills? I will gladly take you up on that offer! I wish I had something to give in return. I was planning on hooking you up with that white genoa loquat but my air layer didn't take. It was supposed to be a surprise but never rooted! I will have to try again. Maybe I can get a new Mango Tree sent to your house? How about a nice Pickering for your green house?

Rob,

When I bought the two mango trees I wanted a pickering but they did not have one, hmm......

Let me see what I can drum up for you!

Waynea,
  That's the problem -- I don't have any trees I don't like!!  (Even the BTs!)
  I do have a couple of BT's that have some very long branches and could stand a haircut.  Maybe I'll try them first.
  Thanks for the encouragement.  I know it is just a psychological hurdle I have to jump.
  This thread, and the other air layer tutorial thread that Wills recently started, show me I have no excuse not to do it.  Even though it is mid Aug. and I'm in NJ, I think I still have time (especially if I don't girdle the branches, I have nothing to lose.)
Jim

You will be amazed at your success Jim.

Jim,

You are correct.  No wounding = Nothing to lose.  Even if it roots and you change your mind, you can remove the layer material.  The roots will fall off and the wood will convert back.

Wow, I must be doing something wrong on my air layers. I started over 20 in mid June and hardly any have roots. Soil is
still slightly moist as I inject water to wrapped dirt every 12 days.

Wills, I have seen a guy that has air layers after every 2 nodes.

Special delivery coming for you Uncle Wills;)

Hi Willsc,
I would use bigger containers for that size air-layers.
I trimmed a ground-layer that is more than a meter in height. The pot used is one of 20 centimeters of diameter and same in height, so already plenty of dirt for the new tree.
As for abuse, I always thought that in labs propagating through less than a one centimeter stem was some kind of abuse... We're far from that :)

@needaclone: Don't run first, walk. It is ,IMO, too late for an air-layer now in our zones. Start your air-layers in May, June or July, but no later in our zones.
So I would wait till next year now. The new tree needs time to settle and I wouldn't leave an in progress air-layer hanging to a tree through the winter.
You could try to get your trees to go root-suckering - that is way more easy.
Way1: Normally if you air-layer a fig-tree at dirt level, after removing the air-layer, the root-mass will send several shoots suitable for ground-layering.
Of course, while propagating the tree, you're delaying fruit production ...
Way2: root a cutting and lay it on the side. The cutting should start sending several stems through its length. Then ground-layer each stem and let them grow back.

@harveyc: I'm using mainly one year old branches . As explained, I would try to convert a tree into a root-suckering machine - as are my biggest tree from the strain ufti, my Dalmatie tree1 ...
The only problem is once they start ... they don't stop ...