198 
THE FLORISTS JOURNAL. 
below the surface in planting the pipings, it will decay and com¬ 
municate disease to them. The best soil for them is a little bed 
of dung or rich compost, raised two or three feet above the 
surface, to prevent the possibility of stagnant moisture; this 
should be watered, the cuttings planted about three quarters of 
an inch deep, and the ground watered again ; but the glasses 
must not be shut closely down until the cuttings are dry. They 
should be lightly shaded during the hot sun; and if the weather 
is very hot and dry they should occasionally get a gentle watering, 
and after about two weeks they should have air. In six weeks 
they will be ready for transplanting into small pots, or placing in 
a bed with a frame and lights over; and they may remain until 
about the middle of September. If they appear diseased, and 
show mildew or mucus, they may be thrown away as useless ; 
but if they are healthy, though they have not fibred, they may be 
put under glass, with a little artificial heat, until the fibres are 
started ; and then they have every chance of doing well. 
In layering, the operation should be begun toward the end of 
July; and the branches next the ground are the fittest for it. 
The first step is to trim off with scissors the grass toward the root, 
having previously given the plants a good watering. The surface 
of the mould must then be stirred, about half an inch of compost 
added, and all is ready for the operation. This is done by a 
slanting cut on the under side, begun about a quarter of an inch 
below the joint, and carried right through that to a quarter of an 
inch above. The layer is then to be bent gently upwards, and 
the tongue cut square off immediately under the joint, because 
that is the place where the fibres are to be produced. The cut 
part is then to be pegged down, and covered with compost to the 
depth of three quarters of an inch, and if any of the mould is 
displaced in watering it, it must again be put to rights. In about 
six weeks, more or less, according to the season, the layers should 
be taken off and potted at about three in a 48, or two in a 60; 
and the pots should be so placed as to prevent the entrance of 
worms. They must not be planted too deep in the pots, and 
great care must be taken that none of the side leaves are buried, 
as that will infallibly destroy them. 
Toward the end of October they should be removed to that 
station where they are to remain for the winter. If they are in 
frames, the bottoms of these should be covered with a layer of 
