56 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



six weeks. When suiRciently rooted, pot them off into five inch pots, a 

 pair in each ; or, if your space is limited, and the layers small, three may 

 be put into each pot. After they are potted they should be placed under 

 glass in a cold frame or pit, plenty of air given in mild weather, and shel- 

 ter from severe frost when it occurs. Very little water is required during 

 the winter months, and the air in the frames should be as dry as possible. 

 Should damp prevail, the plants, some fine day, should be taken out, and a 

 coat of fine dry coal ashes spread over the surface. The plants should 

 then be replaced in the pit. 



By Pipings. — Carnations may be propagated by this mode where there is 

 the convenience of a gentle hotbed. It is, however, not so safe as layering, 

 but when there are more shoots than can be layered, and it is desirable to 

 propagate largely, the superfluous shoots may be piped. Cut off the lower 

 part of the shoot up to the third joint, trim off the lowest pair of leaves, 

 and pass the knife just through the joint. Prepare a pot, by draining it, 

 and filling it with the compost up to within an inch of the top; fill that inch 

 with silver sand, Avater it gently to make it firm, and then insert the piping 

 all around it, close to the pot sides ; place them in a gentle hotbed, shading 

 from the sun ; watch them daily, and supply water when the sand becomes 

 dry. When they are rooted, which they will show by sending up fresh 

 leaves, pot them in pairs, as directed for layers, and treat them in the same 

 manner. 



By Seeds. — The seeds may be sown, during the spring months, in boxes 

 or pans, filled with the same description of soil as before recommended. 

 Let the surface of the soil be made even, and the seed evenly scattered 

 over it, cover them to the depth of a quarter of an inch with finely sifted 

 mould. If early in the season, the pans may be put* in a moderate hotbed, 

 iust to cause the seeds to germinate, but must not be long kept there for 

 fear of weakening and drawing the plants. Without artificial heat the 

 seeds may be sown in May, placing the pans or boxes in an open airy part 

 of the garden, but shaded from the sun at least from ten in the morning till 

 four in the afternoon. Moderate moisture will be indispensable, but if the 

 soil be kept too wet the plants are liable to damp off, or to be otherwise 

 injured. When the plants have acquired six leaves, and are about two 

 inches high, they should be pricked out in rows six inches apart, keeping 

 them well watered until they have taken fresh root. About the beginning 

 of October they should be potted for the convenience of wintering. Plant 

 out in the spring in a bed prepared as before directed. As soon as the 

 blossoms can be seen, all the single sorts should be taken up and thrown 

 away to give the double ones more room to grow. The finer blossoms 

 ought then to be selected for layering or piping. 



The following list comprises a few of the varieties which I have culti- 

 vated for several years, and consider among the most desirable in my 

 collection : 



CARNATIONS. 



Admiral Curzon, (Paxley) Scarlet Bizarre. 



Coriolanus, (May) « *' 



