r r ^ f
h o ld th e narrow bases of th e petals, in a close and c ircular
body. M’liatcver coloui-s th e flower may be possessed of, they
Blioiild be perfectly distinct, an d disposed iu long reg u la r
stripes, broadest a t tlic edge of th e lam in a , an d grad u a lly
b ecoming narrower as th ey approach tho unguis, or claw of
th e petal, thcro tem ilu a tin g iu a flno point. Each p e tal should
have a du e proportion of white, i. e. one ha lf, or ne arly so,
■which should bo perfectly clear, an d free from sjiots. Bizarres,
o r such as contain two colours upon a white ground, arc esteemed
r a th e r preferable to flakes, which have b u t one, especially
when th e ir colours are rem a rk ab ly rich , an d very
reg u la rly d istributed. Scarlet, pu rp le, an d pin k, are th e th ree
colours most p redominant in th e carnation ; th e first two are
seldom to be m e t w ith iu tlio same flower, h u t the la st two are
very freiiueiitly. Sl'heti the scarlet predominates, an d is united
wltli a p aler colour, or, as i t someUmcs happens, mUIi a very
deep pu rp le u pon a white ground, i t constitutes a scarlet
b izarre, o f which th e re a re m a n y sliades an d varieties, some
rich e r an d others p a ler iu th e ir colours, as is the case with all
th o rest. P in k bizarres a re so called when the p in k abounds ;
p u rp le bizarres, wlien th e p u rp le a b o u n d s ; c rimson bizarres
consist o f a deep pu rp le an d rich pin k . W hen the p in k flake
is very h ig h in colour, it is d istinguished b y the appellation of
rose rfake; h u t somc th e re are so ne arly in th em ed iu in betwixt
il pink an d scarlet, th a t it can scarcely be dcflned to which class
tlicy belong. I n adilltion to th e foregoing varieties, th e re is
a sort held in g rea t esteem by cultivators, called picotoe {fig.
004. Cl) ; many o f which arc very b eautiful, and, b e ing h a rd ie r
tlian tlio other sorts, arc in considerable request. Th e colours
a re p rincipally yellow, a n d w hite sp o tted ; th e ir properties are
th e same as th e other kinds, except tlia t tlie edges o f tho petals
a re se rrated or jagged, a n d the colour is disjiosed in sjiots,
where th e others are striped. I t is propagated in th e same
m an n er as the others.”
6301. Propagation. By layers an d pipings for continuing
approved sorts, an d b y seed for p ro curing new varieties.
6502. B y layers. The tim e for performing this operation is
when th e plants are in fu ll bloom ; somo defer it til l th e flowers
a rc on tho d e clin e ; h u t in th a t oase tlie new p lan ts are n o t so
well rooted as those layed earlier, an d consequently less able to
stand the winter. Laying, b y tlie wounds i t inflicts, considerably
impairs tho bloom, au d generally kills th e p a re n t p lan t.
T he practical p a rt of th e operation h a s n o th in g e x trao rd in ary
iu i t ; a sufficiout q u an tity of pegs {fig. 905. a ) a u d o f eompost
be in g provided, th e pot containing th e p ian t to be layed is
placed on a table, an d tho layers prepared h y c u ttin g off th e ir
lower leaves (6) ; th e e a rth is th en stirred , an d tlie pot filled
u p w ith “ lig h t rich mould, n o to fto o flue a g ra iii.” Ouac/doqi:.)
Th e inclsiou is made hy en terin g a q u a rte r o f an in ch briqw
th e jo in t, an d passing th e knifo up th ro u g h th e centro o t it :
i t is th en to bo pegged down, an d bu ried n o t m ore th a n lialf
au in ch deep. “ I t is advisable,” Maddock says, “ to peg
down th e layers in a d ry state, being th en less b rittle , an d consequently
n o t so liable to break off as wheu th ey are wot and
succulent ; therefore, as soon as tho layers are dressed, th e pot
should be placed fu ll in th e sun for h a lf an h our, in o rd er to
ren d e r them m ore flaccid aii<l p lia n t th a n th ey otherwise would
bo. When th e layers a re properly rooted, which will he the
ease with moat sorts h i ah o u t th re e weeks o r a m o n th after
lay in g , provided duo caro be tak en to keep th em reg u la rly
moist, an d to shade them from th e b e at o f th e merid ian sun,
th e y are th en to be out off from tb e old p la at, wltli ab out h a lf
an in ch o f th e stalk which connects thorn with it, an d be im m
ediately p lan ted in small pots, th re e or fo u r p lan ts in each,
placed ro u n d th e sides. Th e pots a re to he placed u n d e r an
a rch o f hoops, where th ey can be covered with mats, In case of
excessive rains, til l th e severity of th e weather renders it
necessary to remove them in to th e ir winter repository, which
is to be constructed in th e samo m an n er, an d have the same
aspect, aa tlia t described for au ricu la s.” {Florisl's Directoi-y,
‘ * 530^. Ilogg commences la y in g when th e flowers are sufficiently
expanded to show which arc in colour, or tru e to th c ir
k in d s, a n d which n o t: th is he finds to bo about tlio 21st of
Ju ly , a n d he continues lay in g from tlia t tim e to tho 21st of
August. T h e p lants receive a good watering the day previous
to laying, becaiiso th ey can receive i t only for some tim e after
tliro u g h th e fine rose of th e watering-pot, on account of preserving
th e earth on th e layed shoots. I n performing th e opera
timi, he cuts off th e nib or extreme end of the tongue, or
talus, immediately below th e jo in t, because, “ if left on, i t is
a p t to decay,” an d prevent th e protrusion o f th a t granulous
m a tte r from which th e fibres jwocced. Under favourable cii
.•umstaneos they will be fit to take off in seven or e ight week
an d may then be p lan ted two or th ree in a small ]>ot (No. 48.),
3 in. in diameter, by 4 in. deep. Tlio poia a re to be set on
tiles, slates, o r boards, th e re to rem a in till th e middle or end
of October, when th ey a re to bo removed to th e ir winter
qu a rte rs. {Treatise, 4 c ., p. 56.)
5504. B y pipings. This mode o f pro p ag a tin g th e carnation
is very precarious. Maddock says, “ oOOo p lants were piped
one season, o f which not more th a n 100 p e rish ed ; whereas
more th a n 2000 were lost o f tlie same n um b e r th e y e ar following,
witli h u t very little variation in th e m an ag emen t; nevertheless,
some sorts succeed mucli b e tter by jiipiiig th an laying,
make h e a lth ie r p la n ts ; i t requires a ttention an d cxperl-
D to distinguish such sorts from tlie rest.” Piping, liow-
r, is often a necessary resource where th e shoots a re too
r t for laying, or where, in laying, shoots a re broken by
idont “ I'ip in g ,” Hogg observes, “ succeeds worst In very
h o t summers, ami best in those w hich a re r a th e r m oist and
cloudy. E a rly piping, before tlie carnations come into flower,
succeeds best, au d pipings c u t immediately below th e second
jo in t m ak e th e handsomest a n d m o st compact pian ts.” {Supp.
<J-c. p. 123.)
5305. I n p ip in g the fir s t thing is to provide a slight hotbed,
id cover i t 4 in. o r 5 in. tliick with flnc lig h t mould, laid very
reg u la r an d even. Tho cu ttings intended to be piped a re to
have two complete jo in ts, th a t is to say, tliey a rc to be cut
off h orizontally close u n d e r th e second jo in t ; th e extremities
o r points o f th e leaves are likewise to he shortened, as for lay- J'lf ................................................... rt rt......
Uin.
which will leave th e whole length of tb e p ip in g from
■ f e n ., according to its strength (yig. 905. c .): r --------
prejiared, it may he thrown in to a basin of soft water
w minutes, to plum p It up. T h e e arth on th e bed where
th e pipings a re to be placed should be moderately moistened,
an d ren dered r a th e r compact th a n otherwise: th en tak e a
small hand-glass, an d with it make an impression n eatly on
th e surface o f th e soil, in ord er to know where to stick in tli©
p ipings, so as to lose no room, o r endanger th c ir being dis-
* --bcd when th e glass is iilaced over them. Th e pipings a re
m to bo tak en out o f th e basin singly, an d forced in to tlio
e a rth , in tlieir wet state, with a steady h a n d ; b u t not more
th an lia lf an in ch deep. Wiion a suflicient n um b e r for the glass
are th u s placed reg u la rly , a t eq u al distances from each other,
an d r a th e r m ore tliau 1 in. within th e m a rk described b y th e
glass, on every side, th ey a re to be very gently watered, in
o rd er th a t tho eartii may adhere m o re closely to th em , an d
thereby keep out th e a ir ; a fte r th is watering, th e y a— -----
n o p e n ,1 t n o t exposed t< un, til l th e ir leaves hctliom
carefully, t . .
tlie surface o f th e soil before tiie inpmgs were piaccu iiiei e.
Th e bottom edges of th e glass aro to be forced a littlo in to th e
earth, to prevent th e admission of too mucli a ir, which so fa r
finishes th e operation. W h a t fu rth e r remains to be done is,
to atten d d iligently to th e ir management, with respect to sun
an d a ir, &c. Somo gardeners assert th a t c u ttin g th e points
off tlie leaves is injurious, aud others, th a t i t is a t least u n necessary
; so th a t th is p o in t does n o t seem to he determined
on. Possibly th e amp u tatio n of tlie points may serve as a
stimulus to th e loaves, au d cause them to r e tu rn the sap to
tlic stem, causing it to form a caliositj', an d throw o u t roots.
Clark, who has written very accurate directions for piping, in
Hogg’s Supplement, pp. 131. to 140., differs from Maddock, as
to watering after th e pipings are planted. Saturate tho e arth
witii water before inse rtin g th e p ip in g s ; h u t a fte r they a re p u t
in, do not add one drop more, ' ‘as some recommend, and, as
th ey say, to settle the e arth to th o p ip in g s ; because i t mu st
be evident, th a t an y w ater p u t to them after th ey are iu, will,
as i t sinks, unsettle th e e arth from th e bottom o f th e pipings,
an d tlius have exactly th e co n tra ry effect to settling the e arth
to th em .” {Ilogg'a Supplement, p. 134.)
5306. The soil in which p ip in g s are pla n ted aught to le kept
regularly moist, lil l they have formed th e ir fibres; b u t too
mue li moisture is as prqiudicial as too little , an d w henever
tliey are watered, th e glasses are never to he replaced over them
till th e ir leaves a re perfectly dry. Th e pipings should have a
little of th e mo rn in g sun, b u t m u st be shaded from it w hen
th e iic at becomes co n siderable; th is will be easily effected by
lilaeing ma ts upon a slig h t frame o f lioops o r la th s erected
over th e bed, ab out 2 ft. above it. Hogg prefers b u n tin g an d
Scotch gauze to th e common garden mat, because they .admit
a fa in t g lim mering of liglit. {Supplement, >5-c., p. 124.)
6507. The glasses over p ip in g s should be occasionally tui-en
off to a dm it fr e sh a ir ; i f th is m a teria l p o in t is neglected, th e
consequence will he a green mossy appearance on th e surface
o f th e e arth , au d an universal mouldiuess amongst th e plants,
which will destroy them. I t requires more skill to know when
an d how long th e pipings should be exposed to th e a ir, whilo
forming roots, th a u for almost an y other p a rt of th e m anagem
en t ; on tills single point, in a g re a t measure, depends th e good
o r ill success o f th e whole u ndertaking. I t is almost, or
perhaps entirely, impossible to lay down an y rules th a t will
n o t he liable, as circumstances m ay vary, to mislead tlie in experienced
in th e a r t of p ip in g ; m u c h mu st depend on th e
discernment an d prodeuce o f the cu ltiv a to r; th e re is no g rea t
d anger to be apprehended from ta k in g off tlie glasses for a iew
m inutes, or h a lf an ho u r, when It is cloudy, an d the a ir ra th e r
w arm an d m o is t; b u t i f no opportunities of th is k in d occur
in du e tim e, i t should he done e arly in th o m o rn in g ; an d
ra th e r th a n to om it doing it entirely, it will be b e tter to take
th e glasses off, if it is only for flve m inutes, tu rn in g them u p side
down on th e p a th , in order to a ir them, an d replacing
.i.Aw, oroaiA Av»F th e p lan ts; even th is will be of g roat service,
■ • effectual a irin g a t favourable
more froqucntly necessary in
-.-OT
though n o t eq u al to t
times, which, indeed.
ou„n spindle up an d hec,.~OT -----------,, ------ , -..........................-
atten d ed to, viz. agreeably to th e following direc tio n s:—When
th e ir fibres a rc formed, which tlie ad ditional verdure an d
growth of th e plants will demonstrate, the glasses should he
placed over th em very lig h tly , In order tiia t more a ir may be
adm itte d ; an d when th ey become to lerably well rooted, tho
glasses, being no longer necessary, should ho en tirely taken
away: b u t it seldom happens ihivt a ll the plants, u n d e r tlie
same glass, strik e root to g e th e r; some are generally a few
days or a week forwarder tliaii th e rest, as will be a p p aren t by
th e ir superior growth an d v e rd u re : such o u g lit to be c:irefully
tak en up a n d planted in small pots, for winter preservation.
md th e sides of large carnation.
'oon make rapid
;; th e remaining plants wliioh_________i_fficicntly...........
for removal, m u st be continued u nder th e glai
directed, till th ev become so.
5508. Care o/p ijiin g s as to n m or degenerated flower.
necessaryto bo very careful to m a rk such pipings as a n
off before it can be ascertained wliether th e o riginal plai
tru e colours, or ru n (o r degenerated) ; because it very seMu -
liappens th a t tiie pipings or layers, tak en from a ru n flower,
■ th a n .............
IS before
I t is
ikcn
produce an y other t r plain-coloured blossoms;
............ —- ou g h t therefore to be so mark ed as th a t
may be accurately known from wh at p la n t o r p lants they
were taken, in order th a t i f an y o f th e originals should prove
fou! in colour, or ru n , th e increase of such m a y b e distin-
Iied from th e rest, an d destroyed. T h e layers an d pipings
10 m ost be au tifu lly variegated flowers will frequently pro-
o f tho n
„uvc ru n blossoms; b u t it is impossible to prevent it, especially
amongst th e rich high-coloured sorts, when th ey grow in a
ric h compost.
5309. Some people p ip e their carnations at the th ird jo in t,
l>ut it is b e tter to do i t a t the second; because, in th e first in stance,
tile th ird jo in t being m ore lia rd an d woody, the pipings
do not strike root so soon, or fo rm afterwards such handsome
plants, as when they aro piped a t th e second jo in t from tho
extrem ity of the shooL {Flo. Direct., p. 202.) Clark says,
pipings should have two or th ree jo in ts ; and, generally speak-
iiig, tlie second jo in t would be the p ro per one, i f the grass is
in a good state, a n d th e jo in t is n o t green an d succulent,
n e ith e r too h a rd , b u twh ite , soft, an d swelling. {Hogg'sSupp.,
53 lu. Hogg considers th a t pin in g th e carnation should
eommeuco sooner th a n laying, before th e slioots got h a rd and
woody; he begins ab o u t tlie 1st of J u ly ; b u t sometimes, ho
has found the “ g ra s s” quite ready h y th e 21sto f Ju n e . {Supp.,
p. 125.) Plan ts raised from pipings h e considers as sounder,
an d more likely to encounter th e rigours of a sharp winter,
--- , OT — - - .111, ü» J
11 lay ers;b u t still,as laying is the surest mode, ho only
es pipings of sucli sho
o h ig h u p the stalk tc
i shoots as appear crowded, or too short
>to be la id easily. He plants th em on
- -------- g of blootl warmth, in a compost o f ono th ird
maiden earth, one th ird leaf-mould, one th ird rotten horse-
d uiig, an d one six th saud, finely sifted, th a t “ tiie cuttings,
when stuck in, may enter easily an d with o u t in ju ry . The
p ip in g should be c u t with a sh a rp pen or budding-knife, a t
th e second or tliird jo in t, according to tho condition of llie
sh o o t; b u t th e shorter th e better. T h e c u t m u st tak e place
horizontally, close below the jo in t, an d th e sheath, o r p art
Uiat covers the jo in t, mu st he carefully removed an d pooled
off. M hen th e pipings a re cut, tho surface of th e bed made
flat and level, a n d gently watered tlirough a fine rose, tliey
m.ay bo stuck in, tliree q u a rte rs of an iuch deep, in rows not
too ne ar to g e th er; thon p u t on th e glasses, pressing them
closely doirn. The best glasses for pipings a re those made of
tlie common window-glass, 8 in, sq u a re a n d 6 in. deep, with a
tm tube a t tlie top wide enough to adm it a common cork. Tlie
less a ir ttie glasses contain, th e sooner w ill th e cu ttings strike
root. Tile striking-glasscs iu common uso, which a re blown
for tile purpose, too often contain such a tliick body of glass
as to concentrate th e sun’s rays, an d scorch the pipings. They
req u ire shading only wlieii th e sun is out, an d then with a net
o r old mat, to adm it tlie g lim merin g of h is rays, I f tlio
weatlier continues d ry an d hot, tliey will req u ire to bo watered
occasionally with a fine rose, e arly in tho morning, over tlie
glasses, which, for one fortn ig h t a t lea-st, need n o t he removed
i f they are doing well. After, you mny take off th e glasses,
o r remove tlie cork, from time to time, as yo u see occasion,
for h a lf an h o u r or so in tho m orning, to give frcsli a ir an d dry
tlio glasses; a n d If an y of th e pipings appear mildewed or
rotten, p u ll them up. At th e end of six weeks tliey will be
suflieiently rooted to be tran sp lan ted in to small pots o r a prepa
red bod, over which i t w ould be advisable to place a frame
a n d liglits for a week or ten days, till they tak e root again.
There tliey may be allowed to rem a in till tlic middle o r so of
September. I n ta k in g them up, i f yo u find an y n o t rooted,
b u t sound, an d tlic ir ends h a rd an d callous, do not le t them
remain upon th e same spot, h u t remove them to an o th er bed,
with a littlo temporary heat, an d cover th em with glasses as
b e fo re ; this will not fail to s ta rt them anrl hasten th e ir fibring.”
{ Irea lise, ^ c ., p. 62., an d Supp., p. 125.)
5311. >>------- ' r- ---- 1 !— ....
th a t no wator can possibly lodge th e re ; h u t in doine this
g re a t care is necessary n o t to wound or in ju re the preicarpium!
o r seed-vessel itself; because it mig h t iirove destructive to the
seed. After th e above is performed, tliecovei's may remain
or be taken away a t p le asu re ; b u t in tlic la tte r case i t is a/1-
visablc to loosen th e u pper p a rt o f tlie stems from th e sticks,
t l.at th e open end of tlie calyx may in cline a little downwards,
th em o r e effectually to preserve it in a d ry s ta te : the stems
should not be suff-ered to h an g so loose as to be in d anger of
b reak ing off wnth every puff of wind. The seed riiiens from
th e end of August to th e b eginning of O ctober: the pcricar-
jniim becomes broivn, dry, an d h a rd , an d tlie seed, when ripe,
18 of a black or very d a rk brown co lo u r; those who are not
■■ ■ ■ of th e ir seed, are a p t to
gatlier i t ti , before 1 ctly matured, in conse-
- , .:.e.. .o...f. .w...h...i.c..h.. ..t—h e 9g reate-sstt p a rt proves small, pale-coloured,
an d unproductive. When gathered, it should remain in the
p en ca rp ium , in a d ry room, till th e b eginnmg or middle of
M a y ; it is th en to he sown in pots fllled «dth th e compost, an d
have a little fine m ould sifted u pon it, barely sufflci'
th e seOT' " t' rti »I..« ort.rto.r.t.. AoAfr tt*h!.e.. y—e_a__r a--r-t¡ifrltc-«ia-.l uh.e_at is n o t required,
th e pots sliould therefore be placed in au a iry p a rt of
tlie garden, be shailed from tho h e at o f th e sun, an d k ep t moderately
moist, b u t never very wot. As soon as th e young
p lants appear w ith six leaves, an d become about 5 in, hig h ,
tliey should he planted o u t on a bed of good rich garden-
mould, a t ab o u t 10 in. o r 1 2 in . asunder, an d be defended from
excess of ra in an d severe frosts, by mats on hoops, placed over
th e bed in th e usual m an n er: th ey will in general blow the
following summer. Some jrersons have advanced an opinion,
th a t tlie seed of ru n p lants produces as g rea t a proportion of
variegated flowers as an y o th e r ; b u t th e validity of thi,« assertion
h a sn o t y et been suflieiently demonstrated h y experiment.”
{Maddock.)
6312. Hogg's directions differ in n o th in g o f importance from
tliose o f Maddock. He says i t often hapjieiis, th a t o u t o f 200
blooming plants yo u w ill n o t be able to get even two pods of
perfect seed. More was saved in th e d ry summer of is ifi
in an y seven preceding years. Seedlings rcq u tr
bloom, an d th e chance of g e tting a good new flow
as 1 to 100. I f a florist raises six new carnatioi
’ is to he considered forti
pod, h<
varieties,
seed from .......... .
p in k flake.
h
irted to produce floi
two years to
:r he reckons
3 in his life-
of th e same
■eport._ .. .______ _________
es, bizarres, &c. Emmerton experienced tba-
larlet flake will produce a scarlet bizarre, an d a
. . . e y e ar old,
been used as a hotbed for cucumbers, melons, & c .; one th ird
fresh sound loamy e a r th ; one siiixxtthl'i**’'ccooaarrssee sseeaa oorr riv er sand.
These ingredients are to ho mixed togetlier in a u tum n , laid
in a he ap abo'ut 2 ft. thick, in an open exposure, an d tu rn ed
three o r four times d u rin g w in te r; or, otlienvisc, th e d ung
alone, a fte r being used as a hotbed, may be thrown togetlier
in a heap, in a conical form, in ord er to ro t more perfectly ;
ancl, as its surface freezes in winter, it should be pared off, and
la id on one side, till the whole mass has been th o ro u g h ly frozen
th ro u g h o u t; th is may be repeated as often as tho season
permits, an d i t will he completely fit for uso th e following
sp rin g : th e e arth a n d sand may be added to i t in March, ivhcn
wanted to fresh pot th e plants for b loom: th e whole should
then be well mixed a n d iiicoriwratcd togetlier, au d passed
th ro u g h a coarse screen o r sieve, to reduce its p a rts an d take
o u t stoues, o r an y o th e r extraneous substance w hich i t may
contain. In c o u n try places, where the a ir is more pure, experience
h a s pointed out the p ropriety o f using less d u n g and
more loam; the proportions o f which, for such situations,
may be reversed, viz. one h a lf loamy cartli an d one th ird
dung, with tlio sand as before specified; th e ]>reparation of
th e compost, in o th e r respects, is to he exactly tho same iu all
situations.” ( J ’fom t’s Dii-ect.)
6314. Hogg says, “ tak e th re e harrows of loam, one an d a
h a lf d itto o f ga rden-mould, ten ditto o f liorse-dung, one ditto
.1----- I------ thrown togcthc' '
•rued t ArA t*l1i.rAcAeA t*i:m.AAerst !ina ftlti.eA w...Cinter,
)j seed. Caruation-soed is r a th e r difficult t<
o f fresh lime, which, as soon as it is slaked, I strew o .— ..
w h ile h o t in tu rn in g th e h e a p ; th is accelerates the ro ttin g of
th e fibrous particles in the loam, lightens th e soil, an d destroys
th e grubs, worms, an d slugs. Lime is too well kuowii as a
man u re to say any th in g fa rth e r in its praise here. I f there
has been m uch ra in d u rin g th e winter, so th a t th e stren g th
o f th e coinjiost is reduced, an d th e s.alts washed from it, I tako
ab o u t 7 lb. o f damaged salt an d add th em to it, e ith er dissolved
different
c o rk e d ,i
¿ c k g iv . .......... .........................
have b u t few petals, or, as it Is more commonly expressed, arc
th ill o f leaf, generally produce most seed, au d therefore arc
most to be depended on for a su p p ly ; b u t th ey should be pos-
■ssed o f th e best properties in otlier respects, viz. th e ir petals
... ..........- .......................................... en tire ¿ t the
edge, an d tiie ir colours rich" an d reguiar?y d is tr^ u te d ,
due proportion, th ro u g lio u t th e whole blossom. The ..____
should be selected from tb e rest, au d th e ir pots should stand
u pon a stage, defended g a in s t earwigs, iu an open p a rt of th e
g arden, in wliich situation tlicy should rem a in d u rin g bloom,
an d u n til tho seed is perfectly m a tu red ; th e ir blossoms sliould
be dofoiided from ram , by h aving glass, paper, o r tin covers
{fig. 905. d), suspended over them, in such a m an n er as to
adm it a free c ircnlation o f a ir ; th e pots should ne ith er be
kept very wet n o r very d ry ; n o r will It be proper to c u t .and
m u tilate the plants, e ith er for tlieir layers o r pipings, till tho
seed becomes ripe, because it would certainly weaken them,
Euicl consoqueiilly in ju re , if n o t destroy, th e ir seed. When tlie
bloom is over, au d the petals become w ithered a n d dry, they
should be carefully drawn o u t o.f. ..t.l.i..c.. ..p..o...d.. .o...r. .c...a..l.y..x...,. ..bleeimngg aapptt
to reta in a degree of moisture a t th e ir base, endangering a
mouldiness an d decay in tlia t pa rt, which will destroy th e seed,
llio re is a n o th er m o d e o f trea tmen t adopted successfully fn
rip en in g tlic seed, which is, when tho bloom is over, an d tho
petals begin to decay, th ey are to be extracted as above, tak in g
p a rticu la r care to leave the two styles, w hich appear lik e horns
proceeding from th e summ it of the germen, or fu tu re periear-
p ium : tho calyx {fi'g. 903. a ) is then to be shortened to about
png h a lf uf its original length, an d an apertu re ma.1'> on one
side of th e remainder, down to tho base o f th e p ericarpium, so
in water or strewed over with tlie hand. Tliis, from an
experience of three years, 1 liavc found to be attended with
tho most beneficial effect u pou the fu tu re h e alth an d vigour of
the plants. Du rin g very heavy rains, m any florists cover th e ir
compost w ith ta rp a u lin g or double mats, to prevent the n u tritio
u s particles from being w ashed o u t ; tliis is also an excelle
n t precaution. I f an y objection be started tlia t th e q u an tity
of d u n g is too g rea t in proportion to th a t o f th e loam, I answer,
tlia t such an objection m ig h t be well founded, if th e compost
were to be used immediately on its being m ix ed to g e th e r; b u t
as it has to lie six months before it is used, T am decidedly of
opinion, th a t th e q u a n tity is n o t more th a n is necessary in
order to insure a In x u riau t growth an d a generous bioom.”
Fo r flowors th a t arc ap t to sjio rtin colour, such as Humi>lii-ey’s
Duke o f Clarence, P lum m e r’s Lord Manners, &c., h e lowers
th e compost, an d uses “ three harrows o f sound stajile loam,
two d itto old rotten cow-dung, one d itto horse-dung, a h a lf
d itto sand, a lialf d itto lim e rubbish or old p la ste r; to be prepa
red, an d well incorjiorated, as before.” He also uses tho
same compost for yollow picotees. {I'reatise, &c., p. 45.)
5515. Cornfield, one of th e first carnation p ow e rs in Englan
d , prepares h is c arn atio n compost aa follows: — For his
strong an d light-coloured bizarres, h e mixes two p a rts of
rich , maiden, yellow loam, ra th e r lig h t an d sandy, with
one p a rt of well-rotted stable-dung. Th is he also uses for
h is c rimson bizarres a n d strong-coloured picotees. F o r liis
irle t I »rpuri
ll quant loam an d dung. {Card. Mag., voi. iv.
p. 221.)
6516. Justice says, “ one article with respect to th e soil for
carn atio n s you m u st c ertainly observe; never to use for it the
gro u n d wherein hyacinths have been p la iite .l; they, from corr
i
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