CARNATIONS. 181 
to peg down the layers in a dry ftate, 
being then lefs brittle, and, confequently, 
not fo liable to break off as when they 
are wet and fucculent; therefore, as boon 
as the layers are dreffed, the pot fhouid 
be placed full in the fun for half an 
hour, in order to render them more 
flaccid and pliant than they otherwise 
would be. 
But if any of the layers happen acci¬ 
dentally to break off, they are ftill capable 
of being preferved by piping, together 
with fuch {hoots as are too Ihort or too high, 
to admit of being layed conveniently, alfo 
the increafe or {hoots of fuch roots as are 
decayed, of which inftances will always 
occur in an extenfive colledlion ; and it 
frequently happens, between the times 
I 
of potting and bloom, that fome of the 
plants become flckly, appear yellow and 
withered, 
1r 
