ON CARNATIONS. 275 



ry from heavy rains, the glass should be placed over the plants 

 during the night. 



On the approach of winter, the pots are plunged in coal ashes, 

 this is, of course, within the frame, and has the effect of prevent- 

 ing the pots from drying, as well as to guard them against severe 

 frosts. They remain in this situation till the following March, and 

 are then more fully exposed to the air, about the first week in 

 April, they are finally removed into the pots in which they are 

 'intended to flower, viz. twelve inches deep and ten across, and 

 others, fourteen deep and twelve across. In the former, I only 

 put two plants, and in the latter I put four ; I however, very 

 much prefer the former, as the roots run much more freely in 

 pots comparatively small, when they can easily reach the sides. 

 Drainage is an essential consideration in the culture of the Car- 

 nation; in order, therefore, that the water may escape from the 

 earth in the pot with great readiness, I use about three inches of 

 broken pots or stones ; these are first placed in the bottom of the 

 pot, and to prevent the earth mixing with this drainage, it is cov- 

 ered with an inch of moss. When all are potted, I then remove 

 them to a situation where they are sheltered from the north winds ; 

 as the season advances, and the rays of the sun become powerful, 

 I remove the pots where they receive partial shade from the mid- 

 day sun, and in this situation they are allowed to flower. As 

 soon as the flower stalks begin to grow, the stakes are placed in 

 the centre of the pot, and the stems secured by ties of matting, 

 according as at the time the buds begin to be formed, I place 

 some finely broken manure on the surface of the pots, being 

 watered through this, it greatly invigorates the plants and 

 strengthens the bloom. When the buds are nearly ready to ex- 

 pand, I assist them by using a sharp knife, to part the extremities 

 of the calyx, they then burst much more freely. I also find it to 

 be of the utmost consequence to protect the calyx from bursting, 

 by tying a piece of matting neatly round its centre ; some flowers 

 will bloom without this precaution, but by far the greater number 

 require it. As soon as the blossoms begin to expand, I shade the 

 flowers with paper covers. Sometimes the flowers are in danger 

 from earwigs, these I prevent from getting to the flower by a 

 small gauze bag being placed under each flower to stop their pro- 

 gress up the stem, which is quite effectual. 



For the compost I take equal portions of fresh loam, rotted cow- 

 dung, a year old at least, river sand, and leaf mould; 1 have it 



