BORDER CARNATIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1939, Page 3

BORDER CARNATIONS

SUCCESS FROM CUTTINGS. Although layering is the recognised and perhaps the best method of in l creasing border carnations, it is not the invariable practice. Now and again one comes across gardeners who pin their faith to the plan of growing them from cuttings, and achieve success. Some of those who grow carnations are not sufficiently keen to spend hours at the work of layering: nevertheless, they obtain very presentable carnations. Some people seem to be able to “strike” carnation cuttings more easily than they can layer them. It seems to be far simpler to induce a layer to form roots than to treat a cutting successfully. There is every reason to suppose that this plan would be found more suitable generally since the layer is still at-

tached to the parent plant, and ought therefore to form roots more easily. Some of the most promising flowerless growths are selected and are taken off; a convenient length for each cutting is five or six inches. A few of the lower leaves are removed, and the steam is severed with a sharp knife. The cuttings are inserted, either in pots or sandy soil placed in a frame which is kept closed for a few weeks; or in a bed of sandy compost on a shady border arid covered with a handlight. A little air ought to be admitted to the frame for half an hour or so each day, to keep the atmosphere dry, and the soil must be kept moderately moist by syringing. The same advice applies to those placed under a handlight or cloche. In the course of a month or so the cuttings ought to be rooted; they may then be potted in small pots and will be ready for planting out of doors in April; or they may be kept in. the frame until .spring.