CHAP. Yin.] CARNATION". 223 



order that the soil in which they grow may not 

 freeze very hard. They are thus left in the 

 shade till the end of April, when, there beino; 

 no longer hoar-frosts to fear, they may be 

 exposed to the east, so that the sun may shine 

 upon them from its rising to the middle of the 

 day and no longer. Thus treated, thev will 

 grow luxuriantly, and produce a magnificent 

 show of flowers." 



Carnations are propagated by layers and 

 cuttings, the last of which, as I have before 

 mentioned, are called pipings. The layers are 

 made when the flowers are in full blossom, and 

 several are made at once, as the operation 

 frequently kills the old plant, and consequently 

 cannot be practised with advantage unless a 

 great many plants are ready to take its place. 

 The layers are cut half through, as usual; and 

 covered half an inch deep with mould. As the 

 stalks are very brittle when they are strong 

 and succulent, it is customary to place the 

 plant in the sun for about half an hour or an 

 hour, to render it flaccid before the layers are 

 made. The layers will generally be well rooted 

 in a month or six weeks, and will then be 

 ready to be separated from the parent plant. 

 The mode of treating the pipings has been 

 already described in p. 73. When the buds 

 begin to form they are frequently tied round 

 with a strand of bast mat to prevent them 

 from bursting; and, just as they are opening, 

 a bit of pasteboard curiously cut is slipped 

 under the flower to keep the petals in their 

 proper place. Each flower is also furnished 

 with a paper or tin cap to shade it from the 



