36 PICTORIAL PRACTICAL CARNATION GROWING. 
matter in brief, we secure new sorts through the medium of seeds, 
and increase them when established by the use of parts of the plant, 
such as cuttings and layers. 
In the chapter on cross fertilisation it was advised that the seed, 
which is mature towards the end of summer, should be separated 
from the pods when thoroughly dry. It keeps perfectly well in a 
paper packet, small bag, or envelope if stored in adry place. The 
names of the parents should be written on these, or, to secure secrecy 
if desired, numbers may be given, which will, of course, be made to 
correspond with names in a book. There is no pretence that the 
cross fertiliser, when he thus carefully records a cross, may con- 
fidently expect that the progeny he rears will combine the merits of 
its parents. It is quite likely that the majority of the young plants 
will totally differ from their parents. The greater number may be 
worthless, because inferior to existing forms, but the interest of 
growing them is profound, because amongst them may be found a 
really distinct and good novelty. The reward for such more than 
compensates for a host of failures. 
Well, we have got our seed, and the time comes to sow it. To 
secure strong flowering plants for examination the second year, a 
sowing may be made in the month of February. This, of course, 
presupposes glass. It is interesting and important to record the 
RAISING FROM SEED. FIG. 15 (NEXT PAGE).—SEEDLINGS AT 
EARLIEST STAGE FOR PRICKING OFF. 
H, drawn and weakly seedling Carnation: g, radicle, or main descending 
root, from which side roots are emitted; 4, surface of soil; 7, stem; J, 
seed leaves; /, central, ascending axis, with second or true leaves 
appearing : 7, proper depth of inserting in soil in pricking off. 
I, seedling Carnation affected with blackleg: m, radicle, dark brown 
or black, shrunken and dead; , soil level; 0, sound portion of stem ; 
p, seed leaves; g, central axis, intact but stunted; 7; depth of in- 
serting in soil, in the hope of inducing roots to push from the sound 
portion of the stem, the blackleg portion being cut away at the cross line. 
J, desirable form of seedling Carnation: s, radicle, with soil adhering to 
the ramifying roots; ¢, soil level; «, seed leaves; v, second or true 
leaves. 
K, seedling Carnation, showing lowest depth to prick off: w, hole made 
with a dibber; a, seedling placed in the hole. 
L, seedling Carnation, showing the greatest desirable depth of insertion in 
soil at pricking off : z, stem, with the growing point clear of the soil. 
M, seedling Carnation pricked off too high: a, surface of soil; 4, long and 
exposed stem, liable to lean to one side as soon as pricked off, or after- 
wards by growth of the top, as shown in outline at N ; ce, crooked stem. 
O, seedling Carnation pricked off too low: d, growing point below the 
surface of the soil and therefore liable to decay as shown at P;e, 
decayed centre. 
