ON THE CULTIVATION UV THE CAIINATION. 173 



lowing remarks upon its culture, which is tlie best method that 

 has ever come under my observation or practice. I propagate by 

 layers in July, and when well rooted, plant them into small pots, 

 using rich sandy loam, and place them in a shady situation until 

 they are fresh rooted. I then plunge the pots in a south border, 

 where they remain until severe weather comes on, when they arc 

 taken up and examined, and cleared from worms, and the soil in 

 the pots finned rather more than in ordinary cases ; they are then 

 placed in a cold frame, where they arc kept until planted out for 

 good, and only covered in severe or hot weather. After prei)aring 

 the Carnation bed, and before inserting the plants, I either roll or 

 tramp it heavily, tlie same as is commonly done for onions ; this 

 process I find gi'eatly prevents them from dying off at an advanced 

 sUge of their gi'owth, especiall}' w lien the soil is of a light nature. 



During the years of my apprenticeship, a border was made up 

 for A'ines in front of a Vinery, which was composed of about four 

 parts of strong adhesive red coloured earth, (i)crhaps more pro- 

 perly clay or mortar,) two parts of new rich earth from an old 

 pasture field, two parts of well rotted horse dung, and one i)art of 

 newly-slacked lime, the whole put together in Autumn, twice 

 turned during winter, and put to use the following Spring. The 

 above border when fully prepared, was selected for a Carnation 

 bed, and whicli turned out to produce strong luxuriant jilants, with 

 brilliant flower coloui-s, far beyond their usual growth during for- 

 mer years in the same garden. The above has since induced me to try 

 tlie same compost for a bed of select CaiTiiitions, and I have found 

 it fully to answer my ex]iectations, by giving strong grown healtliy 

 plants, with rich colours, from 30 to 40 inches in lieight, and 

 liaviiig strong erect flower stalks suj>]iorting their large flowers, 

 very erect, without lianging naioli down, as is often tlie case, — 

 altogether showing what is generally called a good Carnation. 



As I do not see any connnunication on the Carnation as yet in 

 tho Fluricullural Cabiiul, I hope it will not be considered as 

 filling up the pages with useless matter by giving a few of the 

 necessary properties, considered by Florist.s to constitute a good 

 flower, i. c. a strong calyx, about an inch long, suflficiently firm at 

 tlic top to kecj) the base of the j)etals in a circuhu' body, rising 

 about liall an inch al)ovf the cul\'\ ; tlie outer petals turning olf 

 gra«;efully in a convex form, ubiy suj)porting tlie inlcrior petals 



