86 THE CARXATIOX MAXCAL. 



Xever attempt to " dress " a half-open flower — it is 

 irapossible. If I am in need of such a flower, I 

 take it with me, and often before the judging com- 

 mences I have been able to utilise it. As to the 

 necessity of " dressing " Carnations, I am not going 

 to discuss it here. I will only say this, that the 

 beautiful markings of the Carnation cannot be 

 discerned till you commence to dress it, and 

 the beauty of the Carnation is not seen till it is 

 dressed. 



As the plants go out of bloom, they shoidd be 

 at once placed in the open, and, if the young 

 growths are ripe enough, at once layered ; if not 

 sufficiently matured, they should be placed in a 

 warm corner, where they are likely to grow 

 more freely. I layer early, and like to finish by 

 the second week in August. 



For layermg, I use hair-pins, and bend them up 

 in the form of a hook ; they answer the purpose 

 well and are cheap. 



Having prepared my layering-soil, which consists 

 of sand and peat in equal proportions, I take out 

 an inch of the old soil and replace it with the new. 

 I select a ripe joint, and having made the neces- 

 sary cut, bend the layer until the joint is well open, 

 press it down in the soil, and peg firmly. The 

 layer is propped, with a crock or piece of brick, 

 into a perpendicular position, and then watered 

 with the rose of the watering-pot. 



