i 7 6 CARNATIONS. 
and his eye at a proper diftance from 
the objeft. 
The layer may be fuppofed to have 
four or five joints, more or lefs; the 
lower leaves, next the root, are all to be 
cut, or ftripped off clofe, till within two 
or three joints of the end or extremity of 
the layer ; and its extreme points are to 
be fliortened with a knife, or pair of 
fciffors, fo as to leave them only an 
inch and a half, or two inches, in length, 
from the joint whence they proceed, 
according to the ftrength and fubftance 
of the layer. 
All the layers in the pot are to be thus 
dreffed, or prepared, before any further 
procedure be made ; the furface of the 
earth is then to be cleared of what may 
have fallen on it, and fhould be ftirred up 
about an inch deep: the pot is in the 
next place to be filled up nearly level 
with 
