.^3S GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



which it rests ; the third row being placed on the joinings of the second, and 

 a fourth row, should there be one, on the joints of the third ; while the 

 whole continues to grow and expand, giving a natural effect to this artificial 

 operation of dressing of the flower. 



1681. The mode of dressing is to take hold of the broadest part of the petal 

 •with a pair of smooth flat tweezers of ivory or bone, and by a gentle twist to 

 bring the base round into the position it is to assume ; the whole being usually 

 supported by a card, in which a hole is cut large enough to let the calyx about 

 halfway through, while the petals fall back upon, and are supported by the 

 card, which is circular in shape, to correspond with the expanded flower. 



1682. Puds. — A piping, as the grass is called when it is pulled out of the 

 joint in the parent stem, should be struck under a hand-glass, and when well 

 rooted should be planted in a bed, in rows six inches apart, and three inches 

 between the plants : here they should remain till September, when they may be 

 planted in a bed or pots, in a compost thoroughly incorporated, consisting of 

 two-thirds of loam fi-om decayed turf, and one-third well-decomposed cow- 

 dung. If in pots, let them be 48's, having a few crocks in the bottom, and 

 the pot filled with compost. Lift the plants carefully, without breaking the 

 fibres, adjusting the soil so as to place the plant in its proper position, spreading 

 out the roots on the soil, and filling up the pot to the siu-face. The roots must 

 ■not be sunk too deep, but the soil on the top must be on a level with the 

 collar of the plant. When gently watered, the pots may be placed in a 

 common garden-frame, and the glass closed for four-and-twenty hours. 

 Throughout the winter the plants give very little trouble, seldom requiring 

 water, but all the air which can be given them. In March they should be 

 repotted in the pots in which they are to bloom, which should be 2i's, with an 

 inch at least of crocks for drainage ;— the soil as before. 



1683. The soil best suited to receive the young plants is a mixture of good 

 hazel-loam, with well-rotted manure from old cucumber or melon frames. 

 This mixture should be made some months before it is requii*ed for use, and 

 at the time of planting or potting the layers, a little white sea-sand should be 

 added to the soil. Where layers of carnations and picotees are potted, the 

 best plan appears to be to place them singly into small pots for the winter 

 Tnonths. In this way they can be packed closely under common frames in old 

 tan or cinder-ashes. Let the newly-potted layers have all the air possible in 

 fine weather ; but if the winter prove severe, it will be necessary to cover the 

 .glass with mats, straw, or pea-haum. 



1684. Pink pipings properly rooted should be planted out in October, avoiding 

 the old system of shortening the grass. Where seed is required, the decaying 

 petals should be picked off; otherwise cut down the stem. 



1685. Eyacinth.—Vfhen Dr. Clarke, the traveller, visited the gardens of 

 the Sultan at Constantinople, the first thing that attracted his attention was 

 the fragrant odour of the hyacinth, and he soon became aware that an entire 

 .garden was appropriated to this favourite flower, in which it poured forth its 

 whole fragrance undo: the burning sun of Southern Europe. This universal 



