406 General Notices. 



has a tendency to check superfluous spray at the same time that steady 

 growth is ensured, through the medium of the top-dressings, and sudden 

 vicissitudes of drought obviated. There is undoubtedly much vi^aste of 

 manure in many cases, extra quantities being often applied when perhaps 

 mere permanency of moisture at certain periods is the desideratum. Of 

 what use would any given amount of manure be to the black currant or 

 celery crop, if the plant is to be subjected to a continual lack of moisture ? 

 ~{Gard. Chron., 1848, p. 492.) 



Propagation of Pinks, Carnations, and Picotees.— Although the finer 

 varieties of these beautiful flowers require great care in their cultivation, 

 and will often disappoint the amateur, their great beauty will yet insure 

 the patience and skill necessary for their successful growth. I yesterday 

 saw a handful of carnations in a friend's hand, and wondered that efforts 

 are not made to grow them in greater profusion. Many are disgusted with 

 the losses which occur from bad management in their first attempts to get a 

 collection, and give up the pursuit ; but this is not wise. A season or two 

 will make the grower more skilful and fortunate. Seeing these flowers 

 advertised, an amateur orders a lot, and pays perhaps 21. or 3/. for a dozen 

 pairs. These come probably from a distance, not in pots, as they ought to 

 do, but with their roots exposed, and before they can be placed in a safe 

 position they have suffered much injury. A wet season then comes on, 

 and the young plants, not being strongly rooted, rot in the ground. If they 

 escape this catastrophe, they often throw up only a miserable flower, un- 

 worthy of notice ; no grass, as the offsets are technically called, is pro- 

 duced ; and sometimes the original plants will turn yellow and die. When, 

 after all his trouble, the would-be grower finds his dozen pairs reduced to 

 about half the number, he despairs of becoming an adept in the art of 

 flowering these plants, and retreats, leaving the field to more fortunate, be- 

 cause more patient, rivals. Now, try another season at all events, and, 

 without incurring fresh expense, propagate from the stronger varieties 

 which yet survive ; in this way, you will advance more confidently, and at 

 length overcome difficulties which arise from want of experience more than 

 from any peculiarities inherent in the flowers. 



Common pinks and carnations are increased easily by cuttings taken off 

 at a hard, well-developed joint, and planted in a shady situation in the 

 garden ; if under a hand-glass, success is more sure. But we have known 

 great quantities rooted without that aid, by being preserved for a few days 

 from the sun, and kept moist. The soil should be sandy, and the cuttings 

 fixed in it, so that it shall press firmly upon the cut portion. But this plan 

 will not do for finer sorts of carnations and picotees, and the safer way is to 

 propagate these by layering. So many directions have been given for the 

 performance of this operation, that any thing further on the subject may 

 appear to be superfluous ; but, as amateurs are yearly rising up and com- 

 mencing their apprenticeship, such information must be continually re- 

 newed. The principle of layering is to enable a cutting to take root with- 

 out its connection with the parent plant being quite dissevered, on the plan 

 in which inarching and similar operations are performed. A cutting often 



