Round the Year in the Garden 



obtained by planting well-rooted layers in early autumn, 

 not by keeping the layers in pots throughout the 

 winter and planting in spring. The Border Carnation 

 has come to be regarded as an annual in many 

 gardens, though I quite fail to see why it should be 

 so treated when the purpose is to grow for garden 

 display. Splendid results follow if the best shoots on 

 each plant are layered and left to form a clump, 

 instead of being taken up for replanting in a fresh 

 bed. This is the way to obtain flowers in abundance 

 and to see the Border Carnation at its best as a garden 

 plant. One may really leave Carnations undisturbed for 

 two or three years, even without layering the shoots, 

 though after that period of time they become straggling 

 and unsightly. There is not much doubt that flowers 

 of the finest quality are obtained by replanting the 

 rooted layers annually, and most people seem to prefer 

 to do this. 



The actual process of layering, though simple, needs 

 to be performed with care. If the work is negligently 

 carried out many of the layers will fail to root. It is 

 not wise to layer all the shoots on a plant; only those 

 which are strong and healthy should be selected ; a 

 weakly layer is not likely to develop into a vigorous 

 plant. The lower leaves having been stripped off, the 

 knife is inserted at the side of the stem; on reaching 

 the middle it is turned in an upright direction until it 

 has passed through a joint. By means of a proper 

 layering pin, or a hairpin, the layer is pegged firmly 

 into the soil. The pin is passed over the layer, near 

 its base, at the foot of the remaining leaves, and 

 pressed into the soil. Care should be taken to keep 

 open the slit portion ; it is there, and not upon that 

 part of the stem still attached to the plant, that roots 

 will form. It is a mistake to heap up a mound of 

 compost over the layer, for it is with difficulty that 

 it can be kept moist in hot weather. It is often better 



238 



