Propagation by Seed. 19 
be remembered that seedlings cover a good area of 
ground, and plenty of space facilitates layering in 
July or August. 
Planting Out Seedlings-—When about to com- 
mence planting have the boxes of seedlings carried 
to the site. They may then be carefully lifted with 
a trowel, getting out the roots with soil attached 
to them as intact as possible. They may be laid one 
by one into a small, shallow box, which the planter 
can easily move along with him while planting with 
a trowel. Make the soil quite firm about the roots, 
levelling the soil, and the operation is complete. The 
seedlings should be planted at the same depth as 
they were in the boxes, being careful not to bury 
the leaves. 
Instead of making one large plantation cf seed- 
lings the cultivator may desire to plant them in beds, 
but the same general plan of operations may be 
followed. If lines or clumps in the ordinary 
borders skirting the walks be preferred, care should 
be taken to have the sites deeply dug and manured ; 
at the same time some fresh soil lightly dug into the 
surface soil would be a great advantage, as Carna- 
tions delight in fresh soil. 
Keep the Dutch hoe frequently at work amongst 
the plants throughout the summer to keep down 
weeds, aerate the soil and prevent the evaporation of 
the moisture. By the end of the season they will 
have formed large tufts with many crowns that will | 
develop an enormous quantity of flowers in July and 
August following. Most of the plants will produce 
from 100 to 200 flowers, by giving them the above 
simple treatment in good soil, with plenty of room. 
The above details apply to border Carnations, and 
all such as are sufficiently hardy to be grown in the 
open air. They should not be disturbed from the 
time they are planted out till they have finished 
flowering, the worthless ones are thrown away, and 
the layers of the good ones severed from their parent 
stools in September or October. Indeed they may 
all be left till this stage of growth, even if the best 
have been fertilised for the production of seed, if 
precaution is taken to cover up the flowers to be 
cperated upon as detailed above. 
