CULTURE OF THE CARNATION. 
261 
solid, after the manner of making an onion bed; this is found in a 
great measure to prevent their dying off just before flowering, because 
it partially checks their luxuriant growth. 
Those who are curious usually take out carefully all petals that are 
not of a true colour, which if done well, and the remaining petals be 
carefully disposed, the loss will not be discovered. As soon as the 
flowers have turned the height of their perfection, the plants should 
be layered; if done sooner, the bloom will be impaired in consequence 
of the check given to the sap, by the operation of tongueing. Prepare 
a quantity of hooked pegs, and light soil composed of sandy loam and 
leaf mould. Prepare the layers by cutting off their lower leaves; next 
stir up the old earth in the pots, and fill up with the above soil not 
sifted; then make an incision with a sharp penknife by entering about 
a quarter of an inch below a joint, and passing the blade of the knife 
up through the centre of it, and continue to one half or three quarters 
of an inch above it. The portion of the stem left below the bottom 
of the joint must be cut off horizontally close to the joint, and this 
part of the operation is completed. The incision being thus made, 
the layer must be gently pressed into the mould, and secured by one 
of the pegs, not less than half an inch, nor more than an inch, below the 
surface, raise the extreme point of each layer as upright as possible, 
water and shade, as the weather may render it necessary, and they 
will have struck root in three weeks, and be ready to pot off in six 
weeks. The slit or tongue recommended to be made is requisite, to 
interrupt the downward flow of the pulp, so as to cause it to form 
root fibres, while the upward flow of sap in the more central parts 
being but little interrupted, the layered branch continues to grow 
nearly as if it had not been so treated. 
When the layers have struck root, cut them off from the parent 
plants, with about an inch of the stalk below the incision attached, 
and plant them in forty-eight sized pots, filled with good loam and 
leaf mould, a single plant in each, if the plants are strong; if small, 
two or even three may be planted in each pot, placing them round 
the sides. When potted, place them under an arch of hoops in an 
open airy part of the garden; in this situation shelter them, by means 
of mats, from heavy dashing rains, and cold winds, till winter. About 
the middle of October, prepare a frame for the reception of the plants. 
In the first place, set it in a warm situation opposite the south, and 
fully exposed to the sun: raise it from the ground by laying a brick 
under each of the front corners, and two bricks under each of the 
back ones. This will give a good bevel towards the sun, then pro¬ 
ceed to place all round the outsides of the frame not less than a foot 
