ta in experience, being a sure n
versd.” {B rit. (Jard., p. 427.
¿ 1 7 . Afanncr <y'....... '
^poison to tlie carnation, an d vice
Tlie commoner sorts are planted
in beds or borders, b u t tlio select kiuds ahvays in
5318. Pots an d potting. Maddock uses pots for flowering
p lants, “ a t least 12 iu . wide a t th e top, 6 in . a t th e bottom,
an d lOin. deep iu th e inside, with a circu la r ap ertu re in tlie
cen tre of th e bottom of ab out 1 in. in d iam eter; also thrco or
fo u r smaller lioles ro u n d tlio sides of tlie pot, close to th e bottom,
to prevent tlio possibility o fw a te r lodging or remaining
in th a t jia rt.” Hogg uses ¡jois of twelvcor sixteen to tlie cash
heiiyr smaller tlian those recommended by Maddock.
5 o l9 . Tke operation q / potting, according to Maddock,
“ should commence ab o u t tho m iddle of Marcli, if th e weatlier
is n o t extremely unfavourable; b u t it should not, on an y account,
be deferred la ter th a n th e end of tlia t m o n th . Tlie pot
is, in th e first jilace, to he lia lf filled with compost, h aving an
oystershell, with its hollow side downwards, placed over the
hole in th e centre o f th e b ottom : th is compost is to he hig h e r
a t the sides th a n in tlie centre of tho jiot, a n d the p lants Intended
for it, which aro supposed to have been wintered in
small pots, c o ntaming four plants each, are to he carefully
tu rn ed out o f th e ir pots, with a ll th e e arth ad h erin g to them,
in a b a ll; and after ru bbing off ahout Iialf an in ch of tlie su rface
o f th e old mould, ro u n d about th e plants, above th c ir
fibres, cleaning tliem an d cu ttin g off th e decayed points of
th e ir leaves, ilic h a ll is to he carefiilly placed in th e centre of
tlie pot, a n d tlie space between it anil th e sides filled u p with
th e prepared compost. I t is very necessary to be attentive in
placing the plants, th a t th ey bo n e ith er planted deoiior nor
shallower tlian they were be fo re ; tlie comiiost sliould therefore
be h ig h enough to replace th e old e arth th a t was rubbed
n notting, exactly to th e same h e ig h t as before, i. e. h a lf
ic h h ig h e r tjian th e ball of old e a rth - -ihiglU______ _________ ____ _ a_n_d_ _fi_b_r_es_: an d the
whole surface o f th e eartli in tlie pot, when the operation is
finished, should be ne arly level o r flat; b u t b y no means
liig h c ra t the centre tlian a t tho sides, because th e p lants would
th e reb y be kept too d r y ; n o r should th e compost come nearer
th a u within an inch of tho top o r r im of th e pot, a fte r i t lias
been gently shaken, or struck ag ainst the ground, on finishing,
as an inconvenience w ill a tten d its being too full, when the
operation of lay in g comes to be performed, which requires
some additional mould on th e surface, for the layers to strike
in to .” Hogg considers the flrst week in April as th e safest
a n d best time to pot c arnations, an d lie performs th e operation
in th e same m an n er as Maddock. Cornfield commences
iwttin g layers ah o u t th e m iddle of M a rc h ; and, i f tliewea-
th e r permits, finishes ah o u t th e end. (Gard. Mag., vol. iv.
p. 221.) ’
5520. General cuUure. When th e p lants are potted off for
bloom, th e pots should be placed in an open a irv p a rt o f the
g arden, u n d e r an arcli of hoops, th a t in case o f cold dry in g
wuids, heavy rains, o r frosty nights, mats may he thrown
over, to preserve tliem from tlio effects o f such unfavourable
weatlier: u i tliis situation th ey arc to remain, always open i
th e a ir, except in th e cases above mentioned, an d be k ep t ri
g u la rly watered with soft w ater from a fine-rosed watering-pot.
5321. Wken tiieir Jlower-stems are grown 8 in. or lOtn. huih.
It will be necessary to support them ivith sticks, forced iiito
tlie e arth in tlic centre of tlie pot, to which th e stems a re to bo
loosely tied with small jiiccos of bast m a t: tiiese sticks should
be as nigh as th e hoops will admit, in order th a t the pots may
remain u nder th em as long as possible; b u t when the stems
a re grown too h ig li for th is situation, th e pots a re to be removed
to th e stage, and to remain there till the time of b lo om ;
th e small sticks sliould be replaced witli o thers more suitable
for th e occasion; tliose should be ab out 4 ft. or 4 ft. 6 in. long,
reg u la rly taiiering a little from tlie bottom to tlie top, nnd bo
C ited g ree n ; they should bo substantial and straigiit, and
r lower ends are to lie forced iu to th e e arth in t]ie centre
o f th e pot, sufflciently deep a n d firm not to be shaken loose
b y th e w ind. As the stems comiiiuo to advance in hciglit, tho
ty in g , as above, mu st bo also continued a t about every 5 in. or
6 in . : it is proper to look,over an d examine the p lants for this
purpose every tlirce or four days, as th e stems a re ra tlie r b rittle,
an d liable to be broken by tlie wind, if n o t supported in
th is manner. Cornfield uses sticks, p a in ted of a Brunswick-
green colour, with ah o u t 2 in.’o f tlie top white. (Gard. Mag.
vol. iv. p. 222.) ^
5322. 1 / any small, green, winged insects appear on ihe
stems or foliage of th e plants, p a rticu la rly upon or u nderneath
tlie flower-pods, th ey mu st be effectually ex tirpated o r destroyed,
e ith er by th e means of a small soft b ra sh or feather,
l>y tlie api>licatloii of a strong infusion o f tobacco-water, or
some sim ila r easy au d safe expedient; even Scotch snuff dusted
upon the Infested parts e arly in th e m o rning, wliile th e plants
are wet w itli the dew of tlie n ig h t, lias been sometimes tried
ill tills case with success. Cornfield gets rid o f th e aplildes by
d u sting tlie plants, when wet by dew or rain , w ith Scotch snurf,
Suffed from an In d ian -ru b b er bottle, h aving a small tube
xcd in its neck. (Ib id .) ^
5523. The ca lyx o f ma n y sorts contains a great number o f
petals, which, as th ey increase in b u lk , will distend au d b u rst
it, if not timely p revented: th is generally happens a few days
previous to th e proper tim e for th e blossoms opening, and
will, i f neglected, soon manifest the effects of such neglect, hy
le ttin g out tho petals on one sido, an d thereby p roducing a
loose irreg u la r appe.irance, to ta lly destroying th a t compact,
graceful, c ircu la r form which a perfect flower o u ght to possess,
an d which is one o f Its greatest orn amen ts; b u t th is disagreeable
effect may be easily avoided, by fastening a small narrow
slip of bladder ro u n d the middle of th e pod, where i t is moat
swelled, an d appears to have tlio greatest inclination to burst.
T h e slip o f blad d er should he ra th e r longer th a n is required
to go once ro u n d , so th a t one en d of i t may lie over th e other
a little, which, by tho application of a little gum-w:
ad here firm ly together, an d answer th e purpose cor
Small slips of wet b ast m a t m ay bo substituted for
bladder, a n d be in g tied witb a single k n o t ro u n d th e same
p a rt of tlie pod, will answer ne arly as well (fig. 903. 6.).
5324. W ien an y o f the fiowers begin to open a n d exjiand,
sucli should be shaded, both from sun an d rain , by means of
strong caps or pap er covers (fig. 905. d), ah out 12 in. in diameter,
painted w hite or green, an d formed like an umbrella,
to throw off r a in ; each sliould have a square tin tube on the
summit, tlia t will p e rm it th e stick, to whicii the stem is tied,
to pass th ro u g h it as far as is necessary. The tube slioiUd be
an d liave a small hole bored th ro u g h one of
nay bo fixed by a n a il to an y p a rt of tho stick
... B u t when th e ninjor p a rt are iu bloom a
„ should be placed over tlie wliole, an d be drawn
„ t. le t down b y means of lines au d pulleys, exactly in the
same man n er, an d on th e samo occasions, as for tho hlooni of
hy a cin th s an d tulips. The samo frame tlia t was u.scd for the
h y a cin th (fig. 890.) will, with o u t being removed or taken
down, answer in every respect for carn atio n s; n o r c an anv
o tlier more suitable bo contrived o r adojited.
5325. I n order that the flowers m a y appear to tke greatest
advantage, i t is necessary th a t th e p o ts should stand upon a
stage o r platform of hoards, raised ab o u t 12 in. or 15 in. above
the g r o u n d ; th is stage should be very stroii|rly supported, i
ord er to sustain the im 3 pots, without
.V» vv mv UVOÍBVU!» Ol cwi J1UUOI1»; iiiey secrete tuemse:
inmonly d u rin g n ig h t in th e calyx (fig. 905. a), an d s>
commence th e ir depn-dations, h y b itin g off an d devouring Hie
lower ends or claivs of th e petals, which, of course, will cause
them to drop out, an d tlierehy disfigure the flower.
532(1. The stands, or resemioirs, sliould be broad enougli to
allow an intermediate space of water, 3 in. or 4 in. wide, between
th c ir sides and the supporters placed in th e centre of
each. Earwigs will nevertheless ho froqucntly found amongst
th e flowers, having been b ro u g h t upon th i
where th ey remain concealed, or dormant
in b lo om; o r perhaps th ey may have gained access by liaving
c rept u p th e ex tern al frame, an d from thence fallen down
upon th e p o ts; or th ey may possibly have flown upon them,
as they are evidently provided w itli wings, tliough it does not
ap pear tlia t th ey o lten make uso o f them. (See Mag. Nat.
I h s t., vol. iv, p. 456.) At all events, it is necessary frequently
to examine tho plants, an d the sticks whicli support the steins
as earwigs will he often found concealed there in tlie daytime,
p a rticu la rly a t th e p a rt where tho stems a re tied, wliicli affords
th em a more secure hiding-place. I f an y of tlie petals Jiang
loose, or drop out, it is a c ertain sign th a t an earwig is, or iias
been, tliero ; iu tlie flrst caso, blowing forcibly wltli th e mouth
into th e blossom, two o r th ree times, will cause i t to creep o u t;
b u t if i t has qu itted th e blossom previous to the discovery, it
sliould be carefully sought a fte r an d destroyed, or it will continuo
its depredations the succeeding n ig h t; it will, however
most probably be found sculking somewliore ab o u t th e same
pot, b u t not fa rth e r d istan t th a n tlie next, or n ex t b u t one
unless th e searcli bas been deferred too long. ’
5327. The floivers should be suspended from the sticks by
small pieces o f fine elastic brass wire (flg. 906. e), of u n equal
lengths (sold in th e pin-shops), to support them iu an easy
graceful m anner, ne ith er too n e ar together nor remote from
each o th e r : one end of the wire should be introduced into tho
stick by means of a small awl, a n d th e re he flxed sufflciently
tig h t to prevent its dropping out by the weight of the blossom;
tho other en d of th e w ire sliould be formed in to a small ring,
about a q u a rte r of an in ch in diameter, to enclose tho stem
below th e c a ly x ; th is rin g sliould be a little open on one side
to adm it th e stem freely, witliout b ru isin g it, which would
m a teria lly in ju re th e bloom.
5328. Those who are p a rticu la rly cm-ious in blowing their
carnations, carefully ex tra ct sucli petals as a re plain, o r ru n
from th e ir tru e co lo u rs: they perform th is h y means of an
in strum en t adapted to the purpose (fig. 903. f ) , an d with tlio
¿m e a rran g e th e rema in in g petals, so as to supply th e d efect;
in like man n er th ey dispose the whole with such reg u la rity
th a t th e flowers appear to have an equal clistribuHon of beauly
tifu l petals, 1
each other, e
blossom eons,
th e sma ll es t, -f nd tlierefy afford the others r-vw .w .v i «*.-
jiand, which takes off th e confused effect always produced hy
redundancy. Tlie pots mu st be kei>t reg u la rly an d constautly
watered d u rin g bloom, in th e m an n er before described an<l
no favourable o p p o rtunity sliould be neglected to afford them
the lu ll advantage of exposure to lig h t an d air, by drawing
u p th e c loth eovering, in th e man n er before described; b u t
no ram m u st be admitted to tho blossoms a t an y period o f th e
bloom. Somo place tlie ir stage, o r platform, on one side,
ofoers in the c en tre ; b u t a double row of pots on each side,
with a commodious pa tli iu tho middle, is preferable. I f the
pots contain only two p lan ts each, they consequently are not
req u ired to bo so large as for four or flvo; b n t th e la tte r havo
mu c h th e best appearance in bloom, iirodueing a g reater
n umbe r o f blossoms: i t is not, however, ativisable to pe rmit
every bu d to flower, especially o f such sorts as are n a tu ra lly
possessed of b u t few p e tals; because it would ren d e r oacli blossom
a like on every side, with o u t im b ricating
o h id e th e ir respective b e au tie s; an d if tlie
consists o f too g rea t a .An umhe r o f pe—taOTl_,«__, _t-l.oietAy_ eOTx. tra ct
smaller an d th in n e r th a n if only one or two were left ou
each p la n t: it is, therefore, proper iu th is case to c u t oft', or
draw out, tlie small la te ra l buds, close to tlie m a in stem, as
soon as they can be ascertained, in ord er th a t tho rema in d e r
m ay have time to reap due benefit by i t ; b u t thoso sorts th a t
have rem a rk ab ly large sh o rt buds, abounding with petals,
be suffered" to b lo - " ..........
” tire g rea ter p a rt, al-
th o u g h , in general, th re e or four buds are as man y as a
oiiglH
to be suffered to blow on one p la n t These rules, o r remarks,
a dm it of some few exceptions, b u t th e instances seldom occur.
6o29. Carnations are to be treated, during winter, much like
...iriculas: with respect to th e weather, th e y a r e seldom in ju
r e d b y a m oderate d ry frost, th ough it is safer to defend
them from too much o f i t ; b u t it is very necessary to caution
against covering tliem u p close when tlie p iants are wet, as
they are, in th a t state, very liable to co ntract a destructive
mildew, i f th ey have not th e bcnotit o f a free circulation of
a i r ; th is mildew makes its first appearance in purple spots on
th e foliage, wliich can only be cured or prevented from spread-
iiig ^m o n ^ st th e adjacent plants, h y ¿ t t i n g o u t the infected
pa rt, ir removing tl 13 discovered, it being clear
from aimiugy u ia i cue nistempor is aitogetiier oivliig to a very
min u te fu ngus developed b y th e warmth generated a t such
times. Plan ts th u s infected have been frequently known to
communicate th e contagion to otliers which .«taiid near them,
therefore no time should be lost in cu ttin g off tho spotted
leaves o r removing the p lants to a d istan t p a rt o f the garden.
s^ sU o ry , constructed in th e man n er alrea.ly descrlheU, is
liable to th e above effects th a n an y close frame or situation
possibly b e ; because i t lias th e advantage of a free circulation
of a ir a t all times, even when shu
when closely covered u p with mats, &c.,
fro s t; h u t a t those times no such con.-H’-o’*--«» «‘c w oo
dreaded. (Seo Mentor, in Oard. Mag., vol. iv. p. 344 )
6330. r / i i ra in s o f autumn and winter are generally more
than sufficient fo r aamations, as well as for auriculas, from an
excess qf which it is p ro p er to defend th em : of th e two ex.
tremes, it is safer to keep them ra tlie r too d ry tlian too wet at
these seasons, especially d iiriu g w in te r; b u t a m oderate degree
ol moisture 18 always to be preferred, except when tiie weather
is severely frosty. As too long a deprivation o f lig h t is a l all
times p rejudicia l to jdants, therefore, whenever the winter
repository is required to he closely covered u p with mats, for
sevcrai days an d n ights with little intermission, no opportun
ity should be lost d u rin g th e middle o f th e day, i f the sun
smnes, to take off the mats in fro n t o f th e glasses, in order to
adm it Hs lig h t an d warmth. Whenever th e surface o f th e
e arth in th e pots becomes green with moss, o r too compact
an d adhesive, it will be iiroper to stir it u p carefully, about
h a lf an mcli deep, a n d to sprinkle a little coarse d ry sand
reg u la rly upon i t ; th is will prevent an y g rea t dogreo o i tena
city in fu tu re, an d be o f g rea t service; i t may be repeated a:
often as requiro.i. ^
o53b5c1l.. /IJnis sppmrinngg,, tthh ee ppoottss wwiillll pp rroobhaabhllyy rreeqq uu iirree ttoo bbee ffrree-q
u en tly watered, an d by th e middle of Marcli th e operation
o t pottiiig 18 to commence, as already described. Tho blossoms
o t carnations, p a rticularly tlio high-coloured sorts, are
very a p t to ru n from th c ir striped or variegated colours to a
p la in o n e ; th e y a r e th en esteemed o f little or no v a lu e : b u t
when th ey have only p a rtially ru n , th ey may sometimes bo
recovered to tlieir former state, being p lan ted in a poor d ry
soil, th a t will b u t ju s t afford sufficient n o u rishmen t for tiie ir
existence. (Florist's Direct., p. 166.)
6332. Ilogg having potted his blooming plants, supports
-- -- ...OT, ... Uie ..... .......m an IIXJI n er Vi d n o f Maddock.iUUUUVCR,____
and toji.
----------- th e middle of Ju n e “ with about h a lf an inch
'• ro tte. ntl horse-'d-—u'n•fgt tp-.-OaTsOsT.VeOdT th ro u g h Qa 3s1iVev.Ve,, ” twt IhlliCcihi hilVe ifllilnUdSs
ito n a lly to assist tlie plants, au d promote tho groivth of the
which depends th e preservation of tlie collection.
“ M.WV,” h e says, “ top-dress w ith some o fth e h o tte rman u res
of n lg lit-reil, s u g a r- ^ k c r s ’ scum. &c.; b u t, in my opinion,
^ a t IS not necessary for carnations, an d is attended with dan!
g c r: tor, if th e y a re not reduced to a perfect mould, th ey will
¿ r r o d e , a n d b u rn th e plants.” He waters freely while th e
re h?o"oT^ 1“ ^ ’ " ra -r a ? t're whole tim e th ey continue
in blossom. As soon aa th e side shoots appear h e places iilaeea ‘“ ..a
pap er co llar ro u n d the bottom of th e blossc
These collars a re m ad" " f •«vv.Ua ------
im to support it.
circle of 3 in. or 4 in. i
........................ in th e form of a
d iameter (fig. 905. g), with a hole in
vviiviv, stamped out with a steel die, ju s t large enough to
admit th e calyx o r bud, with o u t mu ch c o m S . i g u f and
Wltli a c u t extending from th e centre to tho outside or circumference,
like th e radius o f a c irc le . Ou thoso cards th e flower
fl® \ ° Y “P® “ r a e ; on tiiese tho petaU
a ie also llnely disposed, an d tlie he au ty of th e carn atio n displayed
to g rea t advantage. When plw ed ofeth b s ta g r th o v
should have th e benefit of th e mo rn in g sun till ab out nine or
ton 0 clock, according to th e intense h e at of its r a y s ; th e same
in tho evening, with as mu ch open exposure to th e a ir a t all
times ^ you ean give them, with o u t in ju ry to the bloom.”
in w in te r Hogg prererves them in frames, in th e same m an ner
M ne recommends for auriculas. Wlien ho has more plants
th a n h e can blow in pots, h e p lants th em in beds of th e samo
compost u se d /o r the others, protecting them from severe frosts
an d heavy rains, a n d iu o th e r respects tre a tin g r
same^manner as if in poU. (T r J them i
‘P P ; pp. 140
Vermin o f various descriptions a ttack tlie carnation,
idepcndently o f tlie earwig, already mentioned, sect. 5525!
T h e wireworm, when in th e soil, may bo prevented from at-
reckuig__the roots liy removing tlio e arth , an d placing soot
ro u n d them, c'■“''erin g them up again with soil.
layers.
......... ..................— —J p lan ted o r potted. 'S n aiis! slugs,
And c aterpillars a re to be got rid of in tlie usual man ner, b y
haiulpickitig or lim e w ater; an d th e different species of
aphides, black, green, a n d wliite, b v tobacco water.
Subsect. 9. P in k . — D ià n th u s horténsis "L., D . p lum ò riu s Dec.; D ecdn. T ria . L. and
C^ryophÿUeæ J. L ’oeillet, Fr. ; N elke, Ger. ; A ng elier, Dutch ; G a rofa n o , Ital, ; and
Clovelbne, Span, (Jig . 904. b.).
F. ’f'® a subspecies o fth e D . Caryophyllus: aannd by others to have
proceeded from D. deltoides, a British species, and the pheasant-eye pinks from D nlúmárius Thic
SIt YIS onnll?y wwiitthhmi/Y thh eT lar tit"e r half of the eighteenth century that pinksa nwye nreo tm'cuec ahm imonugr oovuerd a anncde svtoarrise; da nsdn
as to be greatly valued among florists. It is now much cultivated everywhere, and especially in the ma
nufactunng districty ; in the neighbourhood of Manchester and Paisley, it is carried to a high degree of
LttS- ^ hardier than the carnation, and less liable to the casualties incidenUo the
6535. Fa...m....i.t..e..j... .P..a..r..k...i.n..sOToOT n, in -1--6.O2T9,, .m..OeTn..t..iV.VO oiA. or e ight
sorts. Rea, in 1704, says, th e re are many sorts, b u t of little
esteem. Hogg, in 1826, gives a lis t of nearly one liundred
names, as contammg th e best sorts in E n g la n d ; b u t Davey,
who has raised more flnc varieties o f th is flower th a u an y one
else, lias above double th ;.t. num be r ; a u d tho Paisley growers
reckon above threo hun d red sorts.
5 3 ^ . Characteristics o f a fine double p in k . “ T he stem
riiouid he strong, clastic, an d erect, an d not less th a n 12 in.
nif,m. _ Ih o calyx ratlier smaller an d shorter, b u t nearly si-
in iia r in lo rm an d projxirtion to tb a t o f a carnation, as well
as th e formation of the flower, which should not be less th an
24 in. m diameter. The petals should he large, broad, and
substantial, an d iiave very flne-friiigod o r serrated edges, free
trom large, coarse, deep notches or in d en tu res; in short, they
approacli nearest to perfection when th e fringe on th e edge is
so fine as scarcely to he discernible; b u t it wouid be considered
a very desirable object to obtain thorn perfectly rose-
l^ v e d . I.«, without any fringe a t all. The broadest p a rt o f
tlie lamina, or broad end o f tho petals (fig . 904. c), should be
perfectly white an d distinct from the eye, unless it be a laced
pmk, th a t is, ornainontcd by a continuation of tlie colour of
th e eye round it (fig. 90 i. 5), bold, clean, an d distinct, leaving
a considerable proportion o f white in th e centre, perfectly free
from any tinge o r sijot. Th e eye should consist of a b rig h t
o r d a rk rich crimson, or purple, resembling v elvet; b u t the
n e arer i t approaclies to hlack, tlie more i t is esteemed; Its
proportion sliould be ab o u t equal to tlia t of the white, th a t it
»I'lrear too large nor too small.” (Maddock.)
0557. Propagation. Generally by pipings for o rd in ary p u rposes,
sometimes by layers to preserve rare sorts, an d b y seed
_ 5558. B y pipings. The time to commence th is operation is
immediately ¡irevlous to or d u rin g th e bloom, or indeed as
¿ o n as ever th e new shoots are groivn of a suflicient length
for th a t purpose. Hogg commences ab o u t the 21st of June.
I he operation is th e same as in pip in g carnations. Bottom
h e at 18 generally used, b u t by some it is considered th a t this
ra th e r retards tl
celerates the process o f rooting. Rovcll
- - ’•’y necessary to n successful striking.
•rt . . . V ................. p . 102.) Some gardeners, instead
o f e ith er p ip in g o r laying, h a lf separate the young shoots from
th e p a re n t stogk; b u t as th is mu st in ju re th e latte r, an d a t
th e same tim e -not produce very handsome plants, wc can hy
no means recommend it. For the details see G ard. A/at? vol. vii.
p. 458.
¿ 3 9 - B y seed. Proceed as directed for carnations.
6540. A ICO/has found g reat advantage from impregnating
d o ^ lo a n d semidouble pinks w ith single kinds, both in respect
to tocundatmg more stamens, an d producing in consequence
more seed, b u t also in increasing tho varieties, or new sorts,
raised from such seed. (Caled. Soc. M em., vol. lli. p. 270.) The
process of fecundation is tlius described hy a French florist:—
J u s t before sunrise, open carefully th e flower to be operated
on, and a bstrac t tlic anthers with small pincers. About e ight
or n in e o’clock, place th e rijie pollen upon tlie stigma of the
flower, an d repeat tliis two or threo times in th e course of the
rt V “ ra »®‘ ‘»«PfeKuation has taken jilace, tlie flower
will fade ID twenty-four or th irty -six h o u r s ; h u t if not, the
flower w ill rem a in in full b e au ty ; in whieh case th e a ttem p t
m u st be r e p u te d . Tins should always bo done in fine serene
weather, an d care should he taken to defend tho impregnated
flower from ra in an d mists. Plan ts raised from seeds which
have been crossed always bear tho form of the mother, b u t
tak e th e colours of the male p a ren t. Fewer seeds are produced
b"y •a"r tt tthhaann jbiyy nnaattuurree’ aa lioonnee;; .a..n..d. th e impregnated flowers are
less visited b y bees th a n others.”
_ ^ 4 1 . Mode ( f growing. Th e common sorts are introduced
in borders, an d tlie b e tter varieties in prepared beds. Some-
tim^es ra re sorts aro nlauted in pots, b u t in general they thrive
b e tter in th e open ground.
¿ 4 2 . Soil. Maddock says, “ a g o o d fresh loamy soil, dug
and comminuted ab o u t 2 ft. dce]i, an d manured w ith a stra tum
ot cow-dung, two years old, mixed with an equa! proportion
ol e arth (th is stra tum to he about 6 in. thick, an d placed 5 in.
o r b in. below tho surface), is a ll the prep a ra tio n o r compost
th a t appears necessary for th is flower.-'
q54o. General culture. As soon as th e pipings are struck
an d will ¿ a r removal, th ey aro to be planted on a bed of common
garden-mould, whore,, in a few weeks, it will easily be
discernible wluch are tlic strongest p lants to remove to the
blooming-bed. “ T his bed should be raised 3 in. or 4 in. above
tlie surro u n d in g patlis, an d its sides may be supported with
an edging of boards, to come u p even with, o r H n hig h e r
th an . Its surface: th is last, more for th e sake o f neatness th an
an y particu la r u tility i t will be of to th e plan ts.”
5 3 « . T h e p la n ts inUnded fo r the p rin c ip a l bed fo r bloom.
should be placed upon it in August, o r e arly in September, as
th ey do not blow q u ite so well If removed ia ter in th e season ;
they sliould he p lan ted a t ab o u t th e distance o f 9 in. from each
other, an d th e bed should be la id r a th e r convex, or rounding
to throw off excess o f ra in ; b u t w ill req u ire no other co v erii»
th an a very sh g lit one in case of severe frost. The bed shoiilg
be ¿ p t free from weeds, an d its surface stirred np a little i f it
inclmes to bind, or, m o th e r words, whenever i t has become
too Drm an d adliesive. Larg e r strong plants will p u t up n u merous
flower-stems, b u t it is proper to th in them o u t a month
o r six weeks before bloom; in doing which, the largest and
strongest should be left, especially th e leading stem, wliich
p ro c e e ^ from th e h e a rt or centre of the plant, together with
a ll Its best b u d s ; b u t no plan t, however strong, should he permitted
to bloom more th a n ten or twelve blossoms, nor weakly
plM ts more th a n four o r five. I n order to obtain th em large
and well coloured, a ll th e small lateral buds should be c u t or
pu lled off, as th ey never produce an y other th an diminutive
flowers, an d a t the same time rob th e otliers of a certain p art
p t th e ir nourisliment, which, of course, prevents th e ir a ttain in
g the size an d be au ty th ey wouhl otherwise arrive at.
5545. The largest an d must bushy p la n ts do not produce the
fii^ s t flowers; th e y n a tu ra lly p u t forth numerous small stems,
which th e ir roots are n o t able to support sufflciently to produce
la rg e blossoms. Strong h e alth y plants, not too large
an d consisting o f a c ap ita l leading stem in tho centre, w ith h u t
h ttle m r to u n d in g increase, are most pro p er to select for the
best b e d ; these will seldom p u t u p more th an one o r two
stems, which will, however, be very strong, grow tall, ami
ts large a 1 fine as the i<
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