100 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



without breaking it off, then cover the plant about half an 

 inch, continue in this way until you have layered as much 

 of the plant as desired. In layering any plant it is best only 

 to cover the joint, by this means the sun and air having 

 their influence on them, will make them throw out root 

 fibres more readily ; this is caused by the sap running up 

 the shoot, and when descending, not being able to return 

 to the roots, will naturally cause the slit to form fresh root 

 at the joint cut for that operation. In layering the Carna- 

 tion it is best to leave one branch not layered, for sometimes 

 heavy and continued rains will rot them off, and you would 

 lose your plants. You will find it best to make provision 

 against extremes in the weather. After your plants are all 

 layered, give them a gentle watering to settle the earth around 

 them. In this country it is necessary to give them a little 

 watering morning and evening, provided the weather is dry 

 and warm. In about four or five weeks examine your layers, 

 and if well rooted, they maybe taken off and planted in the 

 open ground to gain strength, until the latter part of Sep- 

 tember, and then pot them off, one into a three inch pot or 

 two plants into a four inch one ; the latter will take up less 

 room for the winter. It is frequently the case in layering 

 the Carnation that some of the branches will snap off, not- 

 withstanding all the precaution used, when it will be 

 necessary to pipe them, which is done in the following 

 way : get a large pan or box twelve inches across, and fill 

 it with a rich soil, mixed with one third sand, then take 

 your pieces to be piped and cut them clean off at the third 

 joint, and throw them into a basin of cold water for about 

 ten minutes, then water the soil to settle it well, then take 

 a bell glass and mark its size on the soil ; this being done 



