AN -ENCYCLOPADIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 269 
Carmichzlia- continued. 
©. a (southern).* jl. lilac; racemes simple, rising from 
the denticulations of the branches. May, September. č with 
three to seven obcordate leaflets. Branches compressed, A. 
2ft. to dft. New Zealand, 1825. (В.В. 912.) 
CARNATION (Dianthus Caryophyllus). These charm- 
ing flowers were, at one time, universal favourites, and 
the varieties were far more numerous than now. In the 
early days of gardening, they were often called Gilliflowers 
as well as Carnations. For some unaccountable reason, 
after 1850, they were seriously neglected, and many of 
the old varieties were entirely lost to cultivation; they 
are now, however, regaining popular favour, and are 
ot only cultivated by specialists, but scarcely any garden 
can afford to be without some. ‘There are no hardy 
flowers more deserving general cultivation than Carna- 
tions, as they present charming diversity and brilliancy 
of colouring, with a delicious perfume. Their stateliness 
of gr , and value in a cut state, are also charac- 
teristics greatly in their favour. 
PROPAGATION may be effected by layers, pipings, or 
by seed. 
Layers. This method is far more generally adopted than 
any other, whether the plants are grown in pots, borders, 
or beds. The end of July, or the beginning of August, is 
the best time for layering. Before commencing, а compost 
of leaf soil, loam, and sharp sand, in nearly equal propor- 
tions;-should be prepared. Some pegs can be made of 
bracken stéms, or other material of a like nature, which 
will decay in the soil. A layer of the compost, about 2in. 
in thickness, should be placed around each plant, as in this 
the young plants will root. The shoots selected should be 
denuded of a few of their leaves at the base of the young 
wood, and a slit must be made from this point upwards, 
extending through a joint of the bare stem, so that a 
tongue is formed. The layers should next be carefully 
pegged down in their place, keeping the incision open. 
About lin, of soil must then be placed over the layered 
to tle beyond the peg, and the whole well watered. 
If dry weather ensue, it will be necessary to give occa- 
sional waterings; but care must be taken that the shoots 
are not denuded of soil. Plants layered in pots should be 
placed in the open till they are rooted, which usually takes 
a month or five weeks. See also Layering. 
Pipings. Where shoots are too short or too numerous for 
Carnation—continued. 
a piece of glass should be laid on the top of the pan, till the 
seeds germinate; after which, the covering should be re- 
moved, and the pans placed in an airy position near the 
glass. As soon as the seedlings can be handled, they should 
be pricked out in beds, previously prepared by mixing in 
some fresh loam and rotten manure with the ordinary soil, 
and watered when necessary, to assist them in their growth. 
By the end of September, the plants will be sufficiently 
large to transfer to their permanent position in beds or 
borders, where they will bloom the following season. 
GENERAL CULTIVATION. Winter Treatment. In favoured 
positions, many kinds will withstand the winter, i 
if the soil is light and well drained. Generally, however, 
it is necessary to provide accommodation, for a portion of 
the stock at least, in cold frames; and when a choice col- 
lection is grown, it would be useless to attempt to keep it 
intact withont winter protection. About September, when 
the layers or pipings are well rooted, they should be potted 
singly or in pairs, the former in Sin., and the latter in 4in. 
pots, according to the size of the plants. The potting com- 
post should consist of loam two parts, leaf soil one part, and 
sand one part, with a fair amount of drainage. After pot- 
ting, a good watering should be given, and the frame kept 
close for a week or two, until root-action is resumed, when 
air may be freely admitted. All through the winter, full 
advantage should be taken of fine weather to give all the 
air possible, by tilting, or entirely removing, the lights. If 
bleak winds prevail, it will be best to tilt the lights in an 
opposite direction to the wind. Until the beginning of 
\ 
February, when, as a rule, the plants begin to grow, great - 3 
attention must be paid to watering. They must be kept 
somewhat dry rather than excessively wet, as the greatest 
enemy in winter is damp. If kept too wet, a disease 
known as “Spot” is likely to appear in the foliage, which — » 
may prove very prejudicial. Watering those that are dry, 
with a small-spouted can, so as to avoid unduly wetting 
the foliage, is preferable to using a rose. After February, 
they may have more water; in fact, it will then be very —— D 
unwise to allow them to get at all dry. 
Cultivation in Pots. The end of February, or the be- 
ginning of March, is, as a rule, the best time for potting; | 
but, to some extent, this must be regulated by the season 
and condition of the plants. Pots 10in. іп diameter are 
large enough to accommodate a pair of good strong plants, ^ 
while weaker growing ones may be placed in 9in., or even = 
Sin. pots. These should be well drained, and alayerofleaf —— 
soil or rotten manure placed over the crocks. The follow- — 
ing is an excellent potting compost: Two parts good fibrous — 
пене, у broken too finely, one part leaf mould, and 
n роми one rotte ich may be - 
firm base, and they must either be taken with a heel, or added a Pa sprinkling ii E RA gere Деус че cu cc 
cut off at a joint, and firmly inserted in the soil. Aftera | if it can be procured; well mix the whole together, but do 
good watering, the light should be placed upon the frame, | not pass through a riddle. Pot the plants moderately firm, 
and the pipings must be kept close, and shaded. The soil | and sufficiently deep to allow of the layers being got to tho — 
must be maintained moderately moist till the roots are | surface without fear of breaking off. After potting, place 
formed, but damp must be guarded against. —— back in the frame again, and keep well ventilated, until the 
. Seed. Propagation of Carnations by seed is a very | plants show signs of fresh growth, when they may be stood 
interesting operation. By this means, new and excellent | ontside in an airy position. Watering must be very care- 
varieties are raised. Both single and double-flowered | fully performed for some time after potting, and staking / —— 
the leading growths must not be delayed, or they will be~ 
broken with the wind. If large flowers are required, ће  — 
buds should be thinned in their early stages, and means 
taken to prevent the splitting of the calyx. Should there — 
be signs of this, make two or three incisions in the opposite —— 
side, and fasten a piece of matting round it, which will 
materially assist to keep the petals together. In order to 
layering, or where they become broken by accident, it is 
desirable to propagate by pipings; such shoots may be 
_removed before the time for layering. Бог this mode of 
2 ropagation, it is necessary to have a slight hotbed, and on 
it to put 4in. or 5in. of fine light soil, covered with silver 
sand. The pipings must be long enough to have a tolerably 
plants are produced from a packet of seed; the latter can 
be selected, and the best perpetuated by layering. The 
. principal nurserymen supply seed of good quality, or anyone 
а good strain may save his own.  Hybridising 
most suitable time for sowing is in April or May, and the 
_ best place a slight hotbed, or in a greenhouse. The pans 
should be properly drained, then filled with fresh sandy 
loam and leaf soil to within an inch or so of the top, makin 
it tolerably firm, and the surface afterwards levelled, rand 
vl M This should be scattered evenly overthe 
: then slightly covered with a little of the potting 
mixture, finely sifted. To keep the whole uniformly moist, 
produce fine blooms for exhibition or other purposes, it will 
be necessary to thin the buds severely, leaving only the 
primary or finest ones to develop. he 
plants are best removed to a cool greenhouse, where 
abundance of air сап be afforded; this protection will | 
greatly lengthen the period of blooming, and materially 
For flowering, the . 
| an 
