CHAPTER XI 
PROPAGATION OF PERPETUAL-FLOWERING 
VARIETIES 
PERPETUAL-FLOWERING Carnations are propagated by seed, 
cuttings, and layers, but for cut-flower purposes cuttings 
are best, and these are generally employed. A great deal 
depends upon the cutting, and its proper treatment at the 
commencement. The first essential, therefore, is to see 
that the cuttings are obtained from clean, healthy plants ; 
and the next, to take care that they are grown without 
undue forcing, either by heat or strong stimulants, Where 
large batches of one variety are grown, it is often seen that 
some plants are more vigorous, free-flowering, and the 
calices more perfect than others; cuttings should be taken 
from such as these. The perfect cuttings are formed from 
the short-jointed side growths, which are produced freely 
by healthy plants of most varieties. These should be taken 
off with a heel, or portion of the bark of the main stem, 
attached, which is easily secured by pulling them off with 
a downward jerk, They need but little preparation, be- 
yond removing two or three of the basal leaves. Shoots 
which are seen to be running to flower should be avoided, 
as well as the growths at the base of the plants, these 
having been found to produce unfloriferous plants. With 
some varieties it is a difficult matter to procure sufficient 
cuttings for the winter propagation, owing to their free- 
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