16 Select Carnations, Picotees, and Pinks. 
It may also be necessary to slit the calyx open for 
similar reasons, or to cut it away altogether. 
Carnations take a long time to ripen their seeds, 
so that the work of fertilising them should be com- 
menced when the first and best flowers open. When 
left to their own resources the fine modern Carna- 
tions do not produce much seed as a rule, though all 
varieties are not alixe even in this respect. The 
more perfectly double they are the less chance of 
seed if unassisted artificially. When the seed pods 
turn to a light brown hue and commence to open at 
the tips it is an indication that the seeds are 
mature. This takes place sometime in September, 
when the pods may be gathered and placed on 
sheets of paper in a dry, warm and airy house ex- 
posed to sunlight. Here the pods will part with 
their moisture and burst open to allow the seeds to 
escape. These are thin, much flattened and black, 
as a rule, though some garden varieties may have 
gray seeds. In these operations the original labels 
representing each separate cross should accompany 
the seeds so that no mistake may be made in the 
record. When perfectly dry the seeds may be 
shaken or rubbed out of the pods, the latter removed 
and the seeds placed in paper bags, with the num- 
ber written on, and stored in a dry cool place till 
wanted for sowing. 
Crossing Varieties in the Open. 
The grower who lacks the convenience of a glass- 
house may undertake the cross-fertilisation and the 
harvesting of the seeds in the open garden. This of 
course, could only be done in the case of border 
varieties, of hardy, robust constitution, though he 
may in fine summers be successful even with Flakes, 
Bizarres, and Picotees. This has always been 
difficult, however, and the production of seed is a 
slow operation under the circumstances. ‘The plan 
of operations may be much the same as when con- 
ducted under glass, but the work must be com- 
menced as early as flowers are obtainable to give 
the plants the benefit of all the heat and sunlight 
possible in our climate, together with length of time. 
In order to prevent any possible cross-fertilisation by 
insects, it would be necessary to cover the opening 
blooms with gauze or muslin. The operator can 
then rest assured that no foreign pollen will be 
carried to the flowers to nullify his labours while he 
