THE FLOWER-GARDEN. 
319 
to it will prevent their formation. The old mode of cutting up through 
the joint is not only useless, but injurious, causing an unsoundness 
and canker. For this reason, plants produced by piping are prefer¬ 
red, being more healthy and sound, which, although the layers may 
have rooted, will probably destroy them during the winter; the layers 
are then to be pegged down, with care not to crack them at their 
junction with the mother plant, and thinly covered with light rich 
compost, for if they are deeply buried, they root badly and with 
difficulty, the access of air being necessary to promote the free pro¬ 
duction of fibres. The points of the leaves of the layers must be 
preserved uninjured, and not cut off or shortened, as is the usual 
practice, or you will deprive the plant of a necessary means of sup¬ 
port, the leaves of plants being as essential to their vitality as lungs 
are to animals. In five or six weeks from the formation of your 
layers, they will be rooted and may be removed from their parent 
stems. 
The Carnation blossoms are now advancing fast to maturity ; those 
which are very double and inclined to burst, should have the flower 
pods either tied neatly with bass mat, previously wetted, or supported 
by circular cards, with holes punched in the centre, to tit the pods; 
and these should be cut with a very sharp penknife through each of 
their divisions to the base, taking care not to injure the petals. This 
process permits the flowers to expand evenly, and the cards not only- 
preserve the blossoms in their natural form, but also aid materially 
in increasing the duration of the bloom. The Carnations, if in beds 
in the open ground, and unprotected by canvass or other substantial 
covering, should have their blossoms guarded from the sun and rain, 
by umbrella shaped pasteboard shades, which may be attached to the 
stakes supporting the blossoms; but if it cannot be conveniently 
done, they should be fixed to pieces of slit lath, placed in the ground 
in the most advantageous positions to afford shelter to the blossoms. 
Mignonette.— If you desire to have Mignonette in blow at the 
latter part of the floral season, you ought to sow it now. 
Roses and Jasmines —The layering and budding of Roses and 
other shrubs may now be performed. Some species of the Rose do 
not freely yield suckers, and must therefore be propagated by layers. 
The stocks for budding may be taken from the suckers of the most 
common kinds. The common dog-brier, from its superior vigour, is 
the most desirable stock. Jasmines are principally propagated by 
budding, and the common white kind is the most usual stock. 
Propagation of Chrysanthemums.— The suckers which at 
this season have attained the height of twelve or more inches, may 
