G4 ON CARNATION CULTURE. 



practical experience, yet I have operated as directed by the instructions 

 and practice of several practical gardeners of eminence, and I feel 

 assured, by their ultimate success, that I have obtained a small portion 

 of floricultural knowledge. I have extended rather far with my in- 

 troduction to this paper, but the importance of the subject appears to 

 me to justify it, and form my apology. As it is the first time I send my 

 remarks for insertion in the Cabinet, and as the motives that induce me 

 are only actuated by a desire to contribute, though but in a humble 

 degree, to the interests of floriculture,' I hope you will confer the favour 

 upon me to give these few remarks an early insertion in your 

 columns. 



Mr. William Harrison occupies nearly seven pages of the Cabinet 

 stating his experience on the culture of the Carnation, with the in- 

 tention of profiting a young beginner. All that he expatiates may be 

 rehearsed in a few words, viz. — " Stick three dozen plants into a bed 

 four yards square, place them zigzag ; this being performed in March 

 or April, place a flowerpot on the plants when it is likely to be frost, 

 and attend to tie them securely when required." The substance of 

 these few quotations has been too much extended. What most calls 

 my attention is, he has omitted the principal feature of plant growing, 

 namely, a proper element for their roots. He states " that he grows 

 his in good fresh soil ;" if the soil be good, it is his duty to inform a 

 young beginner what sort it is, whether aluminous, chalky, or abound- 

 ing in silica. A young beginner may have all these equally fresh and 

 good for some purposes, and by Mr. Harrison's Pleonasm adapt 

 some of them to his Carnations, at the peril of losing his plants. 



I beg to offer a young beginner a few standard remarks, which 

 will prove as profitable to him as Mr. W. Harrison's probably will, 

 although critically performed. If the soil which he intends for his 

 bed be in the least adhesive, or too rich, I would advise him to clear 

 it away to the depth of eighteen inches, and replace it by any light 

 friable loam ; if abounding with fibrous or vegetable matter, so much 

 the better. To every four barrow load add one of gritty sand ; when 

 this is done, immediately sprinkle a little hot lime, and give it a mo- 

 derate dunging with pure neat's dung, avoiding any straw among the 

 dung ; dig it up rough, leaving as much surface exposed to the influ- 

 ence of frost as possible. On the first of April (or earlier at pleasure) 

 give it a little soot and dig it in, taking care to pulverise it to a 



