THE FLOEIST-FLOWER GAEDEN. 537 



rotted oow or stable dung, and one measure of drift sand or other sharp 

 grit, to ten measures of the compost. The alhivial deposit from water-courses, 

 like a mill-head, is an excellent substitute for the maiden loam. In preparing 

 the bed for carnations, having filled the bottom with sufficient drainage mate- 

 rial, and secured an outfall for the water, fill In the compost till nearly full. 

 On this surface spread out the roots horizontally, and fill up with fresh compost, 

 pressing the whole firmly, but gently down, in that position. 



1677. The layers of carnations and picotees should be taken ofi" as they 

 begin to form fibre, and either potted or planted in a nux-sery-bed till October, 

 in either case keeping them in a close frame till they have rooted. If potted, 

 re-pot in October, and prune in either case to a clean stem, leaving the lower 

 pair of leaves half an inch from the soil, removing all laterals over an inch, 

 long; most of them will strike in the beginning of October, and bloom strongly 

 the second year, if they do not bloom the first. 



1678. The chief -listinction between the carnation and picotee is, that the 

 colour of the former is disposed in unequal stripes, going from the centre to 

 the outer edge ; that of the picotee is disposed on the outer edges of the 

 petals, radiating inwards, and uniformly disposed. Flakes are carnations of 

 two colours only, with large stripes going quite through their petals. Bizarres 

 have their colours in variegated irregular spots or stripes. A perfect carnation, 

 to abbreviate Mr. Glenny's description of one, should be not less than two inches 

 and a half aci'oss ; the lower petals six in number, — broad, thick, and smooth, 

 and lying over each other so as to form a circle ; each row of petals smaller 

 than that immediately under it, rising in the centre so as to form half a ball. 

 The colour should be clear and perfectly defined ; and where there are two 

 colours, the contrast should be bold and decided. 



1679. The preparation of carnations and picotees for exhibition is quite an« 

 art, and to some a mystery. The base of the petals, which are mere threads 

 issuing from the calyx, supports broad heavy blades, which form the expanded 

 blossoms ; the largest-sized, which should be outside, being fi'equently in 

 the centre. If the flower were left to itself, the calyx would probably be 

 split all the way down one side, the other side not opening at all. To coun- 

 teract this tendency, it is necessary to tie the calyx round the middle when the 

 bud is nearly full grown, and before it splits ; and when the bud begins to 

 open at the top, to pull back the five pieces which form the outer leaves of the 

 calyx down to the point where it is tied : this enables the petals to develop- 

 themselves properly. 



1680. It is necessary, moreover, that these petals should be " dressed " to 

 rsake them presentable. This is done by bringing all the petals into their 

 proper places, passing the threads of the broadest petals outside those- 

 of the smaller, and guiding the others to the centre according to their 

 size. This is obviously a very delicate operation, and should be commenced as: 

 soon as the petals begin to develop themselves. The larger petals are tof 

 be placed, outside, and should form a complete circle ; the next largest fol- 

 low, making an inner circle, each petal lapping over the centre of that on- 



