52 PICTORIAL PRACTICAL CARNATION GROWING. 
It is the habit of the Carnation to throw up a long, wiry stem on 
which to support its bloom in early summer. Simultaneously with 
this development there goes on another—that of the formation of a 
cluster of low, tufty shoots round the base of the stem, which are 
technically called “ grass.” It is amazing how rapidly an apparently 
puny, almost leafless plant will clothe itself in grass when spring 
growth begins. By the end of July the shoots are strong, and the 
layering may soon begin. 
A typical tuft of grass for layering is shown at A. It consists of 
a hard, central stem thickly covered with leaves. There may be only 
one such on a plant, but usually there are several. Sometimes there 
are two or three strong tufts and other weak ones. The latter should 
be cut out altogether. 
A little preliminary preparation is necessary before the shoot can 
be layered. First get ready a supply of soil. It is common to layer 
into the ordinary soil of the garden, but if this is stiff and wet 
rooting is slow. It is best to get the sweepings of the potting bench, 
mixed with a third of sand and, if available, some leaf mould. This 
compost will encourage free rooting. It should be placed in small 
mounds round the plant, a few inches from the main stem—one layer 
one mound (see g In F). 
PROPAGATION BY LAYERING. FIG. 23 (NEXT PAGE). MODE OF 
PREPARING AND INSERTING LAYERS IN BED OR BORDER. 
A, portion of a small plant of Border Carnation: a, rootstock; 0, flowered 
stem, cut off; c, stump of a shoot; d, weak grass removed, being too short 
for layering; e, shoot suitable for layering; f, point up to which it is 
desirable to remove the leaves. 
B, the proposed layer stripped of its leaves up to the highest advisable point: 
g, stem; h, first joint on the stem below the leaves, through which a 
cut is made halfway, commencing on the under side and passing right 
through the joint as shown; i, tongue. 
C, portion of a larger shoot with a cut made at the third joint below the 
leaves retained : j, base of leaves; /, joints with grass buds; 7, joint 
through which the cut is made, forming a tongue from which roots 
are emitted. 
D, portion ofa layer shoot with cut or tongue made at the fourth joint below 
the leaves retained: m, joints with grass buds, not to be rubbed off; x, 
joint through which the cut is made to form the tongue, the lower part 
of which is cut off just below the joint. 
E, mode of making the tongue cut from above: 0, blade of a knife, sharpened 
on both sides, thrust through the third joint and brought out just below 
the joint by means of a clean and rapid cut; y, point of shortening the 
tongue. 
F, layer with shortened leaves inserted in soil: 7, new sandy soil; 7, tongue 
of the layer opened; s, peg for fastening the layer. 
G, ordinary wooden peg, about 4 inches long, made from a dried branch of 
Birch, Hazel, Hawthorn, or Oak. 
