Show Carnations and Picotees. 59 
in pots will usually be a little more forward than 
those in the borders, and may be layered in advance 
of those, according to the observations and discretion 
of the cultivator. Those who grow their flowers 
chiefly for exhibition do not care to interfere with 
the plants till the shows are over. Others again 
layer their plants contemporaneously with flow ering 
in order to insure early rooting of the layers. If the 
operation 1s carefully performed the flowers. will 
receive little or no check. The work may be com- 
menced about the last week of July, but ‘should be 
completed by the second week of August. A con- 
venient method with pot plants in houses would be 
to layer them while still on the benches in any case 
and have them carried out of doors as the work is 
completed, provided the flowers are past or have 
ceased to be effective. Water them with a rosed 
watering pot immediately after layering to settle the 
loose soil about the layers, and repeat the operation 
whenever necessary to encourage the process cf 
rooting. 
