94 THE CARNATIOX MANUAL. 



They are easily taken off, thereby saving many 

 plants from being broken when ready to be re- 

 moved ; and, inasmuch as they can be used for two 

 or three years, if kept clean, come as cheap as any- 

 thing. Do not trouble to layer any small or weakly 

 growth, unless of a new or scarce variety, as they 

 so often go off, or make such weakly plants as not 

 to be worth saving. After layering, the young 

 plants should be kept fairly moist, by spraying 

 them with a fine -rose water-pot once or twice a 

 day, according to the state of the weather, as they 

 should never be allowed to droop from want of 

 water. Take off the layers early in October when 

 well rooted. Some prefer potting each layer in 

 separate pots, but I usually plant a pair in a 3J or 

 4-inch pot, and keep them in a cold frame with 

 plenty of light all round them, and the frames opened 

 on all days except very frosty ones. Water very 

 sparingly during the winter, as too much water has 

 a tendency to develop spot, one of the worst 

 diseases Carnations are subject to. 



I strongly advise everyone to get the plants they 

 want to complete their collections in the autumn, 

 instead of the spring. They get better accli- 

 matised to their new home, atmosphere, &c. ; fewer 

 plants are lost, and they bloom much stronger 

 than when shifted in the spring. 



Raising new varieties from seed is a very inte- 

 resting and fascinating pursuit. Great care should 



