CARNATIONS. 179 
for the fupport of the layer, till it has 
formed fufficient root to fupport itfelf: 
it would Iikewife render it more liable to 
decay on the application of water. 
The layer is to be held down to the 
furface of the earth, by one of the pegs 
before defcribed, which is to be forced 
into the foil, clofe behind the joint where 
the incilion was made; and it is proper to 
obferve, that the fibres are fooneft formed 
when the joint from whence they pro- 
ceed is only juft covered with earth: 
for if it be buried more than half an 
inch deep, it will lofe much of the benefit 
it Ihould derive from the influence of the 
air, &c. and be more liable to decay; at 
all events it will require a longer time to 
ftrike root. The remainder of the ftalk 
of the layer fhould lay, as much as poffi- 
b.le, upon or above the furface of the 
pot; but muft by no means be covered 
