226 PRACTICAL GARDEN IXG. 



after year, is quite necessary where a supply is wanted. E^ery 

 season then furnislies the rooted plants layered the year before, 

 and a new set of branches to be layered for the following year's 

 supply. But layering is not confined to shrubs : carnations, 

 picotees, and even pinks are propagated to a considerable 

 extent by layers ; and there are very few plants which have 

 sound stems, that keep alive through the winter, but what 

 could be propagated the same way. The operation is similar : 

 at a proper distance from the top of the branch, say three or 

 four joints down, or even more if the joints are close, the 

 incision is to be made on the under part, half an inch below 

 a joint, and the knife is made to approach very near to the 

 centre of the stem, and to pass the joint upwards ; the portion 

 severed below the joint is then cut close up, the earth stirred 

 an inch or two below the surface, and mixed wuth a little sand ; 

 the branch is then pegged down so that the cut portion is 

 half an inch below the surface, and well watered immediately. 

 The plant, in fact, must be kept moderately moist until the 

 layers begin to grow and root weU. In a few weeks it may 

 be tried whether the layers have rooted, by withdrawing the 

 peg and trying gently to raise the layer. This must be done 

 by a delicate hand, because, if roughly tried, young fibres just 

 starting might be broken. But many of the bottom shoots 

 of the pink, picotee, and carnation, are found too short to 

 layer at all. These then have to be cut off and struck under 

 a hand-glass. There is much difference of opinion as to 

 whether a layer or a cutting is the best for growing and 

 blooming ; but practice among the best growers has long de- 

 cided that all the shoots that are long enough should be layered, 

 and all those that are not long enough should be cut off and 

 struck. The same principle that rules with regard to shrubs 

 rules with these hardy perennials ; it is by lessening the 

 nourishment from the plant that we drive the layer to supply 

 the deficiency by making new roots ; and the principal care 

 that we have in layering is, not to leave the portion attached 

 to the plant less than half the thickness at any one place, 

 because it would endanger the supply ; at the same time, it 

 ought to be cut very near to half the thickness, or the plant 

 would not miss the supply, and consequently not make any 

 effort to support itseK. 



!Many plants form their own increase by striking root 

 wherever they touch the earth ; the strawberry, for instance. 



