THE CULTURE OF THE CARNATION, 



403 



from the crown, cut smoothly just below the 

 joint, and either cut a longitudinal slit up- 

 wards from the bottom, or leave it without, 

 (I have been equally successful both ways;) 

 take ofT a portion of the tops, and plant 

 t#0 or three inches apart, under a hand- 

 glass or frame, in a cool, shady situation; 

 examine them occasionally, and take off it 

 any that are mildewed, or damp off. Un- 

 cover them occasionally in the mornings or 

 evenings, when the atmosphere is not arid ; 

 this will invigorate them, and prevent them 

 fogging off. In the fall they may be taken 

 up, and treated in the same way as the 

 layers. This method is useful when there 

 are more shoots than can be layered. 



Propagation by slips is performed by 

 slipping off, immediately after flowering, 

 the side shoots at the base, carefully smooth- 

 ing over with a knife the base of the slip. 

 These may be planted out, four or five 

 inches apart, in a cool, shady place. This 

 process is the most simple ; but layering is 

 the most certain. It produces better plants, 

 and is altogether more satisfactory. 



Culture. — The Carnation does not re- 

 quire a very rich soil, though some stimu- 

 lant is necessary. Too rich a compost 

 causes the colours to run, whereby much of 

 their beauty is lost. Some florists recom- 

 mend mysterious nostrums ; but as I deal 

 not in superstition, it will only be necessary 

 to follow common sense as nearly as possi- 

 ble, and advise what is sure (from experi- 

 ence) to lead to success. Take one-sixth 

 each, well rotted horse and cow manure, 

 and mix with the top spit of a good hazelly 

 [free-loam] pasture. Work them well to- 

 gether the summer before planting ; turn 

 over once or twice in the winter. Towards 

 the middle of March, or beginning of April, 

 commence by taking out the original soil 

 about one foot deep, and fill up with the 

 prepared earth. Smooth over the surface 



and plant, placing three plants about six 

 inches apart, and between each patch about 

 eighteen inches. By this mode, there is 

 room left around each patch for your suc- 

 ceeding layering, while the general effect 

 is not spoiled. If the weather is dry, give 

 a good soaking of water, but not unless it 

 is ; as the Carnation is impatient of mois- 

 ture when fresh planted. Some persons grow 

 them all the season in pots, as most of the 

 English florists do, — placing three plants in 

 a fifteen-inch pot, at the same time as 

 when planted in the open ground, and ar- 

 ranging their plants in a triangular form, 

 about equidistant between the side and the 

 centre. This method is good for an ama- 

 teur, or those who have plenty of time, as 

 they can be moved about at discretion ; but 

 for general purposes, planting out in beds 

 is preferable, as watering is in part dis- 

 pensed with, and much labor saved. They 

 will soon begin to send up their flower 

 stems, which should be carefully tied to 

 slender stakes as they advance. Take care, 

 however, not to tie too tightly, as they are 

 apt to break off. If it is desirable to pre- 

 serve their true characters, and have the 

 colours distinct when the flowers begin to 

 expand, there should be an awning of some 

 light cloth placed over the bed, to shade 

 the sun from them. Without this precau- 

 tion the colours will rim, and much of their 

 beauty will be lost ; besides which, by 

 shading, the time of blooming will be con- 

 siderably prolonged. I purposely omit di- 

 rections for getting up this flower for exhi- 

 bitions, as it would be of no service to our 

 present object; but have simply laid down 

 directions from experience, which, if care- 

 fully followed, will lead to certain success, 

 and which I hope may encourage the lovers 

 of flowers to get the best varieties, and be 

 rewarded by a corresponding gratification. 

 The annexed list contains ten in each 



