PROPAGATION OF ALPINE PLANTS 55 
ing ”’ is cutting half-way through the stem, starting behind 
a joint and bringing the knife lengthwise up to the next 
joint. It is from the slit thus made that new roots will 
appear. 
Dianthus layered at midsummer should be sufficiently 
rooted for severance from the parent plant and transplanting 

PROPAGATING DIANTHUS. 
A, a layer, to be pressed tightly down and covered with sandy compost to the base of the foliage. 
The severed shoot may be again severed at the junction of the stems to make two cuttings. 
or potting by September. Veronicas of the club moss type 
or of shrubby character, hardy Ericas, Polygonums, Thymus, 
Nepeta Mussini, and a good many other plants of like 
character may be layered by simply pressing a branch into 
the soiland placing a flat stone upon it to hold itin position (see 
illustration, p.56). By putting the layers down in autumn 
