Propagating and Shipping Young Stock 



handful of damp sphagnum moss upon the sheet of paper, so spread out and 

 disposed that when the cuttings are placed on the moss their roots and necks 

 will be covered by the moss, but the tops will remain free and dry. Spread 

 the cuttings on the moss in a thin line, roots and tops equally disposed. 

 Commence rolling the paper so as to close in the moss and cuttings. After 

 giving one roll fold the paper at the bottom over the roots and 

 then roll all into a fairly compact bundle. Roll evenly and gently. Do 

 not press hard upon the roots, or they will be bruised, and many of them 

 break off. Tie the bundle neatly with a soft string, some raffia, or enclose 

 with an elastic rubber band, and the cuttings are then ready to pack in the 

 case. 



Use a case just large enough to hold the quantity to be shipped. Line 

 the case with heavy paper, using as many thicknesses as may be required 

 to keep out the frost. Old newspapers make the best of all linings and are 

 not expensive. In very cold weather, ten, and often fifteen, thicknesses of 

 paper are necessary in order to protect the plants from freezing, and, in 

 addition, the box should be wrapped upon the outside with five or six thick- 

 nesses and covered with a final wrapping of heavy manilla paper, which 

 should be securely tied or nailed on so that no air can get through to the 

 box. In packing large cases, excelsior should be placed between the layers 

 so as to prevent heating. Finally, nail the cover on the box securely. 

 When nailed, the contents of the box should be so firmly packed that they 

 will not move or shake about. 



Be sure to write the name and address of the consignee plainly upon 

 the box, so that there will be no mistake upon the part of the shipping agents 

 in determining its destination. Forward by such train as will insure a 

 prompt delivery of the shipment to the consignee. Delays in transit are dan- 

 gerous to carnation cuttings, and many a shipper is blamed for sending poor 

 stock, when the real fault lies in improper packing and careless handling and 

 delay en route. 



Propagation by Layering 



There is very little propagation by layering practiced among the carnation 

 growers of the United States ; so little, in fact, that we have practically no 

 literature upon the subject. I must confess that I have done very little of it, 

 as I found our hot, dry summers not well adapted to the operation. 



The following description of layering, as practiced by the English 

 gardener, is taken from an essay by R. Dean, which was published in the 



85 



