70 FLORA HISTORICA. 



good rich garden mould, at about ten or twelve 

 inches distant, and be defended from excess of 

 rain and severe frosts, by mats on hoops, placed 

 over the bed in the usual manner : they will, in 

 general, blow the following summer, but not 

 more than one plant out of a hundred seedlings 

 may be expected to produce flowers of a fine 

 quality. Hogg says, if a florist raises six new 

 Carnations in his lifetime he is to be considered 

 fortunate. 



When increased by layers, the time for per- 

 forming this operation is when the plants are in 

 full bloom. The plant should be placed in the 

 sun, so that it may become dry and pliable be- 

 fore ^the layers are bent down, as when they are 

 too full of moisture the branches frequently snap 

 off at the joints ; the layers are prepared by cut- 

 tino" off their 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 co- 

 vered with a good hght but rich earth, about half 

 an inch in depth. 



'' When the layers are properly rooted, which 

 will be the case with most sorts in about three 

 weeks or a month after laying down, provided 



