THE CARNATION MANUAL. 45 



months these layers are fit to detach and trans- 

 plant. Thus they are ready for the most favour- 

 able planting season, which is from the middle of 

 September to the middle of October. This is, 

 therefore, always a busy time with the Carnation- 

 grower. Fine weather usually prevails, and plant- 

 ing is a pleasure. The site or soil for each new 

 group should be prepared by digging it deeply, 

 manuring it if needed. We then have simply to 

 sever the connection between the layer and the old 

 plant, lift the layer by means of a trowel or hand- 

 fork, and transplant it to its new position. Not a 

 moment is lost, but the plant starts rooting in a 

 few days, and endeavours to take so firm a hold of 

 the soil that frost's upheaving action may not 

 move it. I would advise everyone to try early 

 autumn planting before they adopt the more ex- 

 pensive, troublesome practice of potting up the 

 layers, giving them frame-protection during winter, 

 and planting them out again in spring. Dry 

 Aveather, as a rule, soon sets in after planting in 

 spring, and Carnations do not root rapidly like 

 some plants, therefore are liable to suffer. At all 

 times a firm root-run is essential, and the plants 

 should be firmly pressed at planting- time, or even 

 trodden in lighter soils that will bear treading. 



We do not plant the same ground with Car- 

 nations year after year, but vary the arrangements 

 by having groups of choice summer-flowering, 



