D I A 



D I A 



These flowers may be increased and new ones 

 proi'.uccJ bv SLtds, which should be sown on 

 beds tormej of the above compost, or on the 

 common borders ot light fine mould, from about 

 llie middle ot March to the same period in the 

 following month, raking it in evenly to the 

 depth of a quarter of an inch, giving slight wa- 

 termgs when necessa v, to promote their vege- 

 tation. The tine soils are likewise often sown 

 in pots or boxes, in order that they may be rea- 

 dily placed so as to have onlv the morning sun 

 when the season is hot and dry. 



After the plants are come up they should be 

 kept clear from weeds, and be watered occa- 

 sionally, and about July, when the weather is 

 moist, be taken up and pricked out in nursery- 

 rows on beds three feet in w.dth, setting them 

 six inches distant, and watering them well at the 

 time and afterwards till they have taken fresh root. 



At the beginning of autumn, as about Sep- 

 tember, thev will have attained a large growth, 

 and require to be removed into other beds or si- 

 tuations for flowering, in which they should be 

 set out in rows eight or nine inches distant each 

 way. Some place them in the quincunx man- 

 ner, as producing a better effect. In this situa- 

 tion thev shoulcT be protected in severe weather 

 during; the winter by the application of mats 

 upon "hoops placed over the beds. The culture 

 they require in these beds is merely that of keep- 

 jne; them free from weeds, occasionally stirring 

 the earth between them by a hoe, and as their 

 flower-stalks advance giving them the support of 

 handsome sticks. They should remain in these 

 situations till they flower, after which the singles 

 should be taken out and made use of as there 

 may be occasion, in order to afford full room for 

 the double sorts, the finest and most perfect of 

 which being made stage or principal flowers, 

 and the others set out in the borders ; the 

 whole being increased as there may be necessity 

 bv layering both the first and succeeding years. 



The layer method is that which is principally 

 employed in increasing and continuing particu- 

 lar varieties, as being the most certain. For 

 this purpose the radical leafy shoots proceeding 

 from the crowns of the plants, when of six or 

 eight inches growth, are the most proper. 

 These shouUl be laid down into the earth about 

 the latter end of June or beginning of the fol- 

 lowing month. The work is performed by strip- 

 pinsr oft" the leaves from the lower part of the 

 shoot, cutting off'a little of the top, and then fix- 

 ing upon a strong joint about the niiddlti, to slit it 

 with a sharp knife nearly half way through in a 

 slanting manner, so as nearly to reach the jc)inl 

 above, forming a sort of tongue on ihe under 

 side of the shoot, rcmovintr iTie bark from the 

 enlarged part or joint to promote the striking 

 7 



root. The mould about tlic root of the plant 

 should tlien be stirad, and fresh added where it 

 is wanting, ft)iniing a slight drill or opening for 

 the branch to be gciitlv laid down into in a 

 horizontal manner with the cut part in the 

 earth, tlie top beinir left out and raised a litiK- to 

 keep the slit open, pegging the main part of the 

 branch down by short hooked sticks, drawing 

 the earth over the cut part. When this ii ethod 

 has been practised on all the branches, a good 

 watering should be given to settle the mould 

 about them, and frequently repeated when the 

 season is drv. 



\\hcn the layers thus formed have stricken 

 good roots, which is mostly the case in six or 

 eight weeks, they should be taken off" with the 

 root-fibres as entire as possible, and after having 

 the slickv parts about the bottom and the top 

 leaves trimmed oft", be plantid out either in pots 

 or beds, in the latter method at six or eight 

 inch-.'s distance, with a dibble, a good watering 

 being immediately given, and repeated everv 

 two Jays for ten days or a fortnight till the plants 

 become well rooted. They should be removed 

 from these beds with b.alls of earth about their 

 roots in the beginning of the autumn into small 

 pots, to have shelter during the winter, and in 

 the early spring be placed in large ones for flow- 

 ering ; but w hen there is room, it is a better 

 practice to plant them at once in the pots, as 

 frequent transplanting injures their (growth. 

 Some florists, however, think it beneficial. 



The less fine sorts may at the above season be 

 planted out in the clumps, borders, or other 

 parts, or be left in the beds for flowering. 



These flowers mav likewise be increased by 

 cuttings or pipings in the manner directed below 

 in raising pinks. 



In the winter management of the plants, the 

 fine potted sorts should about November be re- 

 moved under the protection of a deep frame 

 covered with glasses, and plunged closely toge- 

 ther in a slight bed of old tan, dry sand, or earth. 

 In this situation they should have a free admis- 

 sion of air when the weather is mild, but be 

 covered in frost, and care should be taken that 

 there be no stagnation of moisture, by the holts 

 in the bottoms of the pots being obstructed. 



The flowers in the beds should be covered by 

 mats or other contrivances when the weather 14 

 severe at the same season. 



In the spring; their culture should be conti- 

 nued by removing tho'^e fine varieties plantec) 

 out in small pots in the autumn into large ones 

 for flowering, and such as have remained in the 

 nurser)'-beds into the borders or large pots nine 

 or ten inches over at top, to aflbrd flowers, in 

 each of which the business should be done by 

 preserving balls of earth about their rcots, about 



