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attained a large growth, and require to be removed into other beds 

 or situations for flowering, in which they should be set out in rows 

 eight or nine inches distant each way. Some place them in the 

 quincunx manner, as producing a better effect. In this situation 

 they should be protected in severe weather during the winter by the 

 application of mats upon hoops placed over the beds. The culture 

 they require in these beds is merely that of keeping them free from 

 weeds, occasionally stirring the earth between them by a hoe, and as 

 their flower-stalks advance giving them the support of handsome 

 sticks. They should remain in these situations till they flower, after 

 which the singles should be taken out and made use of as there may 

 be occasion, in order to afford full room for the double sorts, the 

 finest and most perfect of which being made stage or principal flow- 

 ers, and the others set out in the borders; the whole being increased 

 as there may be necessity by layering both the first and succeeding 

 years. 



The layer method is that which is principally employed in in- 

 creasing and continuing particular varieties, as being the most cer- 

 tain. For this purpose the radical leafy shoots proceeding from the 

 crowns of the plants, when of six or eight inches growth, are the 

 most proper. These should be laid down into the earth about the 

 latter end of June or beginning of the following month. The work 

 is performed by stripping off the leaves from the lower part of the 

 shoot, cutting off a little of the top, and then fixing upon a strong 

 joint about the middle, to slit it with a sharp knife nearly half way 

 through in a slanting manner, so as nearly to reach the joint above, 

 forming a sort of tongue on the under side of the shoot, removing the 

 bark from the enlarged part or joint to promote the striking root. 

 The mould about the root of the plant should then be stirred, and 

 fresh added where it is wanting, forming a slight drill or opening for 

 the branch to be gently laid down into in a horizontal manner with 

 the Cut part in the earth, the top being left out and raised a little to 

 keep the slit open, pegging the main part of the branch down by 

 -hort hooked slicks, drawing the earth over the cut part. When this 



