PREPARATION OF BEDS _ 23 
should be planted as deep as the base of the lower ones 
retained. It is a mistake to bury the lower leaves in the 
soil, because these cause decay, and the decay spreads to 
other portions of the plant. Plant each layer firmly, and 
let any tall or unsteady plants be supported with neat 
sticks. If slugs 
attack the plants, it 
is a good plan to 
dust over the surface 
of the ground with 
soot. If sharp frosts 
set in, place a thin 
mulch of decayed 
stable manure 
amongst the plants. 
Notwithstanding all 
the care that may 
be taken, some of 
the layers may get 
broken, or be in- 
jured in some other 
way during the 
winter. For this 
reason, it is well to have a number of layers potted up 
and kept in frames, in order to fill up any blanks that 
occur in the beds. Two plants may be potted into a 34-inch 
flower-pot, or one layer into the centre of a 2}-inch pot. 
Fic. 2.—Showing how the layers are secured by 
pegs. (From the Gardeners’ Chronicle.) 
BORDER CARNATIONS IN POTS 
Having said this much about border culture, I must 
point out that the best flowers of border Carnations are 
