76 THE FLORIST. 



Plaked flowers are not to be condemned as run if you can per- 

 ceive the smallest stripe of pure white in them ; I have observed 

 that the progeny of such is usually finely marked the ensuing season. 

 Do not, however, mistake white spots caused by thrips for the natural 

 white of the flower. 



Many sorts supposed to be run will return. This has happened 

 with Martin's President (p.f.), Sharpe's Defiance (s.b.), and many 

 others. Your chances of clean flowers are not equal whether you 

 propagate from run or clean stools ; by which I mean to intimate 

 my oi)inion, that as many plants will probably return to fineness 

 from the one as from the other. 



As for your Correspondent's composts, I should pronounce half 

 dung to be excessive, as far as the ultimate soundness of his stock 

 is concerned ; and he should by no means deprive his loam of any 

 fibrous or rooty matters which it contains ; that 1 consider to be by 

 far its better part. J, W. Newhall. 



I regTct that I am unable to off^er your Correspondent any satis- 

 factory solution of the problem proposed, — the rimnincj of Carnations 

 being one of those subjects which seems to defy explanation ; and 

 hitherto experiments have been so loosely conducted, or under such 

 varying circumstances, that no positive deduction can be obtained 

 from them. My impression is, that Carnations are run more fre- 

 quently by the use of crude material than from any other cause. For 

 instance, the loam has not been sufliciently ameliorated by the action 

 of the atmosphere, or the manure not sufficiently decomposed, or the 

 mechanical arrangement of the soil has prevented a proper drainage, 

 and the removal of the fibre is likely to lead to this. 



To obviate this, therefore, should be our object ; and the first 

 care is the compost. For this I look out for the best pasture 1 can 

 obtain, choosing, wdien practicable, a yellow loam. This I get cut 

 and stacked in August, or early in September, when quite dry ; and 

 in this state, sheltered from heavy rains or snows, it lies till the suc- 

 ceeding August, when I chop it down, and mix it with very old 

 decomposed manure (not spent, but quite decomposed, and pliable 

 when rubbed), in the projDortion of two-thirds loam, one-third old 

 manure and leaf- soil; about one part in three of the latter. To this 

 I add sand, if necessary, to make it more porous ; but in general a 

 good sweet loam, with plenty of fibre — a most important point — 

 will render the whole quite open without sand. 



This is my practice, and I am well satisfied with it. I should 

 on no account advise the picking out the " rooty fibre :" almost all 

 vegetation will flourish in it. Neither do I consider continued shad- 

 ing of the buds advisable ; an hour or two during the extreme heat 

 of the day may be beneficial. 



I think it likely your Correspondent has erred in not getting his 

 compost well mellowed ; and I advise him to give his attention to 

 that point. 



Derby. D. 



