<1X THE CULTIVATION" OV THK CAUNATIUN. 171 



)K)d wlierc it is most swelled, and aj>pt'iirs lo hiivc the greatest 

 inclination to bnrst. The sliji of bladder shonld be rather longer 

 than is required to go once round, so tliat one end of it may lap 

 over the other, whieh, by the ajijilicalion of a little gum water, 

 will adhere firmly together, and answer the purjiose completely. 



M'Ik'u the major part arc in bloom, it is necessary that the pots 

 should stand U]X)n a stage (k platform of boards, raised about 12 

 or 15 inclies above the ground ; this should be very strongly sup- 

 ])orted, in order to sustaiii the immense weight of the pots without 

 danger of giving way- The supporters of this platform should 

 stand in shallow leaden or earthen vessels, filled with water, to 

 prevent the access of earwigs, which are destructive enemies to the 

 blossoms of Carnations ; the}' secret themselves conunonly during 

 the night in the calyx, and soon conmience their depredations by 

 biting oir and devouring the lower ends of the petals, which, of 

 coui-se, will cause them to droj) out and thereby disfigure the 

 flower. The stands, or reservoirs, should be broad enough to 

 allow an intermediate space of water, three or four inches wide* 

 between their sides and the supporters, placed in the centre of 

 each. The pots must be kept constantly watered during bloom, 

 and no favourable opportunity should be neglected to afi'ord them 

 the full advantage of exposure to light and air, by drawing up the 

 cloth covering, (which is supposed to be attached to the stage,) 

 but no rsiin must be admitted to the blossoms at any period of the 

 blooming. Some persons place their stage or platfonn on one 

 side, others in the centime ; but a double row of pots on each side 

 with a commodious path in the middle, is preferable. It is advi- 

 sable not to let every j)od bloom, especially such sorts as are natu- 

 rally possessed of but few petals, because it would render each 

 blossom smaller and thinner, than if only one or two were left on 

 each plant ; it is, therefore, proper in this case, to draw out the 

 small latcTal pods close to the stem as soon as they can be ascer- 

 tained, in order that the remainder may have time to reap due 

 benefit liy it ; but those sort.s that have remarkably large short 

 pods, abounding with petals, must be sufTcred to bloom them all, or 

 the greater jiart; although in general three or four pods are as many as 

 ought to be suffered to blow on one plant. These rules, or remarks, 

 admit of some few exception*", but the instances seldom occur. 



.luyusl linl, 1»33. T. G. S. 



