60 CONVERSATIONS, StC. 



have good properties another year's trial, as sometimes they 

 will he much better the second year than they are the first. 



Wouldknow. I had a handsome seedling picotee last year 

 which I layered very carefully, but alas in the wet weather the 

 worms broke off and destroyed every sprig, so that I entirely lost 

 it. 



Bloomwell. I do not wonder at it, I have been served so 

 myself, but lately I have taken care to prevent the mischief. 



Wouldknow. Pray, how may it be prevented ? 



Bloomwell. When you see a seedling worth keeping, 

 make ready a pot of sufficient size, according to the growth of 

 your plant, take it up with as much earth attached as you can 

 place it in the pot, and fill it up with compost, water well, tie up 

 the flower stems to a stick, and layer the shoots, keep it mode- 

 rately moist, so that it does not flag, and in the course of a week 

 it will be established. 



I have shifted many seedlings in this manner when in bloom 

 and never lost one. The layers take root quite as well as those 

 that have been in pots all the season. 



Wouldknow. When do you begin to layer your carnations, 

 Mr. Bloomwell? 



Bloomwell. Any time when they are fit to layer, I have lay- 

 ered them at all times, I believe, between Mayday and Martin- 

 mas, and have had rooted plants from it, but I by no means re- 

 commend late layering, except when you cannot get them ready 

 to lay in the early part of the season : some will say that early 

 layers are apt to spindle, but I do not think that their early lay- 

 ering is the cause of it, they would have spindled just the same 

 if they had not been layered ; the earliest layers get the best 

 roots, and are most likely to stand the winter, therefore I always 

 begin to lay as sooa as the grass is ready, and continue as long 

 as I have any to layer. 



Wouldknow. What do you consider the best method of 

 layering ? 



Bloomwell. Begin your incision about a quarter of an inch 

 below the second joint, and continue it close up to, but not into 

 the joint, but of the lip close to the joint from the outer ring of 

 which the roots will protrude, when you separate the layer from 

 the mother plant, cut the other side close to the joint also, and 

 the young plant will be as sound as a piping when the joint is cut 

 through in the usual way, the pith often gets damaged, and 



