216 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



plant of a cluster of shorter " tufty " shoots, known among gar- 

 deners as the " grass " of the carnation. It is this grass which 

 provides the shoots for layering, and at the end of July they will 

 be ready for the operation. 



But a little preliminary work will be needed before this can be 

 done. Some attention must be paid to the condition of the soil. 

 If it is of a heavy nature a lighter compost must be introduced 

 for a space of a foot or so round the base of the plant. This may 

 consist of sweepings from a potting bench and some light leaf 

 mould, with a good supply of fine sand say one-third of the 

 whole. When this has been thoroughly mixed it may be worked 

 into the ground, and it will be found that the layers will root far 

 more rapidly and strongly than if this precaution had been 

 neglected. If the ground by a happy chance should be light and 

 friable, nothing will be needed but the loosening of the surface 

 round the parent plant before putting down the layers. 



Another preliminary will be for the gardener to supply himself 

 with a number of wooden pegs similar to that depicted in the 

 diagram. These can be made from the joints of hazel twigs ; 

 or a ready-made article may be secured in the common feminine 

 hairpin. I have used the latter with successful results many a 

 time, and if my supply of wooden pegs runs short I invariably 

 resort to this easily procurable substitute. The hairpins must, 

 however, be of sufficient strength to keep the layer securely in 

 position. 



The process of taking the layers is as follows : 



Select a strong side shoot growing from the base of the plant. 

 Hold it firmly with the left hand, and, beginning from the ground 

 level, remove carefully with the right hand all the leaves on the 

 shoot for a space of two or three inches. Care should be taken 

 not to tear the skin of the stem. If there is danger of this the 

 leaves may be cut off close with a pair of small scissors. The 

 reason for this operation is to admit of the stem being bent down 

 into the ground, hence the term layering. 



The next operation will at first perhaps be found the most 

 difficult for the novice to attempt successfully ; but with practice 



