62 FLORA HISTORICA. 



the branches frequently snap off at the joints : 

 the layers are prepared by cutting off thek lower 

 leaves, and an incision is made by entering a quarter 

 of an inch below the joint, and passing the knife up 

 through the centre of it : it is then placed on the 

 earth of the pot, which should be first stirred up; 

 and after it is properly pegged down, the branch 

 should be covered with a good light but rich earth, 

 about half an inch in depth. 



AVhen the layers are properly rooted, which will 

 be the case with most sorts in about three weeks 

 or a month after laying down, provided due care 

 be taken to keep them regularly moist, and to shade 

 them from the heat of the meridian sun, they are 

 then to be cut off from the old plant, with about 

 half of an inch of the stalk which connects them 

 with it, and be immediately planted in small pots, 

 three or four plants in each, placed round the sides. 

 The pots are to be placed under an arch of hoops, 

 where they can be covered with mats, in case of ex- 

 cessive rains, till the severity of the weather renders 

 it necessary to remove them into their winter repo- 

 sitory. 



The propagation of Carnations by pipings is 

 very precarious. INIaddock says, *' Five thousand 

 plants were piped one season, of which not more 

 than one hundred perished, whereas more than two 

 thousand were lost of the same number the year 



