16 ON IMPREGNATING CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES, 
of the circle, to admit of the water which so drains off passing out of the 
circle to the outside of the wood. I have several pieces of wood thus 
formed, of different sizes. If you have the circulars two inches thick, 
and put them into a pan or saucer full of water, place the pot upon 
the wood so as not to touch the water, this will prevent slugs (who 
will not go through the water) attacking such plants as they are 
fond of. The circular of this thickness will prevent the pot from 
touching the water. 
ON IMPREGNATING CARNATIONS, PICOTEES, &c., IN 
ORDER TO OBTAIN IMPROVED VARIETIES. 
BY AN AMATEUR FLORIST. 
To effect the above object artificial impregnation is essential. Flowers 
must be selected which possess the best properties, having round petals 
of firm substance and smooth edges. The colours must be properly 
disposed upon a clear ground. ‘The operation is found to succeed best 
with flowers of the same class, as crimson bizarres with crimson bizarres, 
and scarlet flakes with scarlet flakes, and so with every other class and 
colour. A few days previous to impregnating a flower a few of the inner 
small petals, and all the thread-like filaments, must be cut away by 
means of a pair of small pointed scissors, but the central styles (having 
coiled horn-shaped tops) must remain entire. No flower must be thus 
prepared but what is about in its meridian condition. 
The pollen (powdery substance from the anthers) may be conveyed 
by carefully removing the filaments with a pair of tweezers, or by 
means of a small camel-hair brush. In the operation, lodge all the 
pollen necessary upon the summit of the styles of the flower which is 
expected to bear seeds. If the pollen be carefully applied very little 
will suffice, perhaps as much as a single anther affords. 
If a flower be procured from a distance, which is to supply pollen, 
it should be gathered before the anthers burst, and it may be preserved 
in a glass bottle of water, in a light situation (a window) till the anthers 
open. 
After the flower is impregnated no water must be allowed to fall 
upon it for the first fortnight; the shade employed should be a funnel- 
shaped one, such as are used for shading carnations, dahlias, &e., from 
sun. Ina few daysafter impregnation, if it be effectual, the petals will 
begin to coil inwards; as they decay they must be carefully removed so 
as not to injure the seed-pod. The earlier in the season the hybridizing 
process is done the better the seed ripens. Let the seed be kept in its 
pod till spring, and then be sown in a pot, placed in a gentle moist heat 
till the plants are up, then gradually inure them to a cooler atmosphere, 
and pot off singly as soon as they are sufficiently rooted. 
An attention of this process is very interesting and pleasing, espe- 
cially so when the period arrives of the progeny displaying their floral 
beauties. ‘The innocent recreation in the process fully repays for 
attention, and when an improved flower is obtained, the reward not 
only stimulates to future exertion, but supplies a lovely object of 
admiration for a future period. 
