FLORISTS' FLOWERS : CARHATIONS. 69 



with the earth well pressed about the roots. Use the 

 compost without sifting, but look through it well for 

 wireworms. Place the pots in a sheltered part of the 

 garden, on a bed of coal ashes, water when necessary, 

 and as the flower stems shoot up, place a stick to each, 

 high enough for the flower when it comes out, and tie 

 the stems very.slackly, for fear of their bending or break- 

 ing. As the buds swell, thin out all but the most plump 

 and healthy. When the flower begins to open, it is 

 very apt to burst unevenly. To prevent this place an 

 Indian rubber ring round the bud, or tie it with a bit of 

 bast, and if it is inclined to burst on one side only, cut 

 the calyx a little open at two other places, with a fine 

 pair of scissors. When one side of a flower is spreading 

 too much towards the sun, turn the pot round. To 

 make flowers bloom in fine spreading form, paper collars 

 are put round them, to which to spread the bloom. The 

 collar is a round piece of stiff white paper, with a hole 

 in the middle to receive the calyx, the leaves of which 

 are turned down to keep it in its place. The outer 

 range of petals is arranged on the white paper, and it 

 should not extend beyond; and then, range after range to 

 the centre, the petals are put in nice order, and I 

 believe the tweezers are used with any which are insub- 

 ordinate or faulty. When flowers are exhibited, all this 

 manipulation seems hardly fair, but it is a question 

 which the most influential judges would find it difficult 

 to place under rule. Before the plants come into bloom 

 they should be ranged on stages or stands, the feet of which 

 should be placed in earthen or leaden cups for water fifteen 

 inches wide and three or four inches deep, with a socket 

 in the centre large enough to receive the feet, to keep 

 off the approach of slugs, and all creeping destroyers. 

 The stands should have an awning to keep off sun and 

 rain. Watch the flower stems to support them as they 

 grow taller. The flowers come in June or July. 



Carnations are generally propagated by layers laid 

 down the end of July and beginning of August, when 

 the plants are in full flowering vigour: the earlier it can 

 be done, the better the layers will be established before 



