The time for performing this operation is when the plants are in full bloom, or a little past. The shoots of the plant, around the bottom, should then be brought down to the ground, and, when rooted, separated from their parent. The materials needed for layering are a sharp, small knife, a quantity of notched pegs, and some finely-sifted soil. Choose a dull, cloudy day on which to perform this work; or, if the plants are in pots, they may be layered in any weather.

Begin by trimming off the leaves from the bottom of a shoot, leaving the two upper-most on, and entire. Trim off the lower leaves on every shoot before layering one, because, when a layer is tongued, it is easily broken off. When this is done, take hold of the shoot, turn it up, and pass the knife blade through the third joint upward, commencing the cut just below it; then reach a hooked peg, thrust it into the soil, catching hold, by its hook, of the layer as it descends, and press it gently down to the soil.

Do the next in the same manner, and so on until every shoot is layered, then cover them all with the sifted mould, about three quarters of an inch deep, and the process is completed; then give a slight watering, and the layers require no further care, but watering, until they are rooted, which will be in about a month or six weeks. When sufficiently rooted, pot them off into five-inch pots, a pair in each; or, if your space is limited, and the layers small, three may be put into each pot.

After they are potted, they should be placed under glass, in a cold frame or pit, plenty of air given in mild weather, and shelter from severe frost, when it occurs. Very little water is required during the winter months, and the air in the frames should be as dry as possible. Should damp prevail, the plants, some fine day, should be taken out, and a coat of fine, dry coal ashes spread over the surface. The plants should then be replaced in the pit.

By Pipings

Carnations may be propagated by this mode, where there is the convenience of a gentle hot-bed. It is, however, not as safe as layering; but when there are more shoots than can be layered, and it is desirable to propagate largely, the superfluous shoots may be piped.

Cut off the lower part of the shoot, up to the third joint, trim off the lowest pair of leaves, and pass the knife just through the joint. Prepare a pot, by draining it, and filing it with the compost up to within an inch of the top; fill that inch with silver sand, water it gently to make it firm, and then insert the piping all around it, close to the pot sides; place them in a gentle hot-bed, shading from the sun; watch them daily, and supply water when the sand becomes dry. You can put a water fountain around them so residual splashed water can help keep the soil irrigated.

When they are rooted, which they will show by sending up fresh leaves, pot them in pairs, as directed for layers, and treat them in the same manner.