122 Select Carnations, Picotees, and Pinks. 
early varieties, as a greater length of time must 
elapse between the last stopping and the period of 
blooming. All this presumes a knowledge on the 
part of the cultivator of the peculiarities of the 
varieties under cultivation. Seasons also vary to 
some extent and exercise a decided effect on the 
rate of progress. Moreover, a continuity of bloom 
over the longest possible period 1s more desirable in 
this country rather than a glut of bloom at any 
given period. This can be secured by growing 
early, mid-season, and late varieties, and by pro- 
pagation at different times during the winter and 
spring months, and by stopping at different periods. 
The medium in which to insert the cuttings should 
be prepared in advance. The cuttings may be 
inserted in pots of any light sandy soil, but equal 
proportions of mellow loam, leaf soil and sand will 
give good results, with a layer of clean sharp silver 
sand on the top. Where the quantity to be pro- 
pagated is great, a bed of some size should be made 
up in the propagating pit or stove over the hot- 
water pipes so as to secure a bottom heat of 60. 
If the atmosphere of the house is kept at 50° to 55° 
as the minimum by night it will suffice. The 
material of the bed should consist of clean sand, 
which should be pressed down firmly and thoroughly 
watered with a rosed watering pot to settle the soil. 
As soon as the superfluous water has drained away 
the cuttings may be inserted and made firm. 
Selection of Cuttings. 
The selection of the cuttings is an important 
operation, and should be conducted with great care. 
Healthy and vigorous plants only should furnish the 
necessary stock, all stunted and diseased plants 
being discarded. Bud variations are of frequent 
occurrence amongst American Carnations, and if 
any plant produced flowers of an undesirable colour, 
no cuttings should be taken from it. 
Selfs may give rise to white, striped, or variegated 
flowers, and if any of them are sufficiently meritorious 
to be worthy of preservation, cuttings should be 
inserted and grown to the flowering stage, and those 
which fail to come true to the types selected, should 
be weeded out, and the process repeated the follow- 
ing year, should this be necessary. By this means the 
sport will become fixed in a year or two. If cuttings 
are taken from the base of the plants, and the plan 
repeated in succeeding years, the plants rapidly 
