96 ON THE CARNATION. 



gradually exposed and inured to the open air, and when convenient 

 removed to any suitably sheltered spot, taking care that a thick layer 

 of coal ashes, or boards, are under the pots to prevent the ingress of 

 worms. 



As Carnations are by no means partial at this season to much wet, 

 many florists erect a temporary covering with the lights belonging to 

 their frames, and this answers the purpose very well. But the. same 

 gentleman whom I have before alluded to, and who supplied the list of 

 the best twenty-four Carnations in the West of England, built a sort 

 of greenhouse, open at the sides and front, under which he had a 

 stage near the glass, on which the pots were placed ; in rough 

 windy weather, in sleet or snow, or when apprehensive of a severe 

 frost, he made a good protection of mats ; but on all other occasions 

 they had all the weather ; the result was, that his layers were 

 healthy, the produce great, and flowers fine. I also recollect seeing 

 lately an account of some layers in France, which had been potted in 

 strong soil, and placed in a north aspect; they were seldom watered, 

 and were protected from rain. They escaped in the severe winter of 

 1837 and 38, whilst most other collections, which had been more 

 tenderly nursed, were destroyed. I may here observe, that from 

 being placed in a north aspect, and having but a small quantity of 

 moisture, the innumerable small cells or vessels contained in the 

 stem of the layer were undoubtedly not overcharged with sap, as is 

 the case with plants of a gross and robust habit, and would escape 

 the effects of severe weather ; whilst on the other hand, those whose 

 sap-vessels are fully distended would experience ruinous effects from 

 the frozen sap becoming too large for their vessels or cells, and a 

 complete rupture takes place throughout the plant, causing its disso- 

 lution. As a familiar illustration, the same effects may be observed 

 in our own gardens ; for in severe frosts, when a flower-pot is filled 

 with wet soil, and the mass becomes frozen through, the destruction 

 of the pot is the consequence. From this it will be seen that it is 

 imperatively necessary that they should be kept nearly dry through 

 the winter months. My own plan, immediately after removing the 

 layers from the closed frame before alluded to, was to place them 

 under a slight awning, made of thin calico, stretched on a frame 

 about twelve feet long, by three feet broad, and painted with oil 

 and a little white lead ; this is attached to a wall, so that I can let 



