o4 PICTORIAL PRACTICAL CARNATION GROWING. 
Now prepare the layer by pulling off the leaves on the lower part 
and putting them, to avoid littering, ina box. The extent to which 
this defoliation may be practised is indicated at fin A, and at A, @ in 
B, p. 53. The stem, g in B, is left bare except fora tuft or crown of 
leaves, which may be trimmed in, but this is not absolutely essential. 
Just below these leaves, say at the third joint, pass the blade of 
a sharp knife into the lower part of the stem, and draw it up through 
the joint; or with a keen pointed knife, with both edges sharp, 
pierce the joint, and bring the knife out with a downward slicing 
stroke. The exact method is not material. The important point is 
to cut through a joint and form a tongue, which should be drawn 
gently open before the layer is pegged down on its mound. Pegs 
may be made quickly from old Hazel that has been used for Pea 
sticks, or they may be bought ready made. The “ Unique” Layering 
a a by Mr. R. Sydenham, Tenby Street, Birmingham, is one of 
the best. 
If the layering is done by the middle of August the plants 
will have good time to make roots before autumn. With suitable 
soil they will form a strong cluster of fibres in six weeks, so that 
by, say, the end of September they will be ready for separation 
from the parent. 
Before detailing the subsequent treatment it may be well to 
glance at other methods of layering. For instance, Carnations are 
frequently flowered in large pots. Exhibitors often adopt the plan 
of growing their plants in pairs in 9-inch pots. Strong specimens, 
grand blooms, and abundance of grass are thus secured. Naturally 
PROPAGATION BY LAYERING. FIG. 24 (NEXT PAGE).—LAYERING IN 
POTS. 
H, section of part of a 9-inch pot in which a pair of Carnation plants have 
flowered: ¢, pot; «, space for holding water; v, plant untrimmed; w, 
flowered stem, to be cut off after fading ; x, shoots too short and too 
high up for layering, but which may be taken off and inserted as 
cuttings ; y, basal shoot that may be utilised as a heel cutting ; 2, shoots 
suitable for layering; a, plant showing preparing processes; }, shoot 
carefully trimmed of leaves with scissors preparatory to tonguing; e, 
shoot trimmed of leaves; d, cut made through a joint forming a tongue 
e, and leaves shortened to about level with the central growing point 
leaves, f; g, soil taken out of the pot 2 inches or so deep, this being 
done all round the inside, or where the layering is to be effected. 
This space should be filled with new soil, raised level with the rim. 
I, part section of a 9-inch pot in which layering has been done: /, new soil ; 
z, tongue open; j, peg; #, surface level; 7, layer with leaves shortened, 
this being optional; m, layers prepared for insertion; , shoots not 
eligible for layering, being short and too high up on the plant. The 
pots in which the shoots are layered should be stood out in the open 
until the layers have rooted. If layered in August, the layers will be 
sufficiently rooted to admit of potting off by the end of Septem ber. 
