I 
180 CARNATIONS. 
. III i niwu ai Mi l 1 , * 
deep in the earth, which would decay 
it before it had fufficiently fupported 
the layer. 
Fern pegs, which in moil places are 
very eafy to procure in abundance, are 
rather preferable to any other: they are 
already naturally formed in the fialk of 
the plant, and only require to be cut off 
at fuitable lengths; they retain a fufficient 
degree of ftrength to hold the layers 
fecurely down till they have formed root, 
and will decay when become no longer 
needful. 
It is not neceffary that the layer {hould 
have, at firft, an exaftly ereft pofition, 
it will naturally foon acquire it in the 
courfe of its growth; but it fhould not, 
even at firft, be fo nearly horizontal as 
* 
not to allow the incifed part to open 
fufficiently for the. fibres to iffue forth 
regularly on every fide. It is advifable 
to 
