CLISIPHONTE CLOVE. 



CLISIPHONTE. A genus of shells constituted 

 by De Montfort, and united by De Bluinville with 

 the genus Lenticulina. It is only known in a fossil 

 state, and is a microscopic shell. 



CLITHON. A genus of shells established by 

 De Montfort, and now united to the genus Nerita, of 

 which it forms a subdivision. 



CLITORIA (Linnaeus). A tropical genus of 

 leguminous climbers, with pretty little papilionaceous 

 flowers, which are produced abundantly if the plants 

 are allowed heat enough. They sometimes ripen 

 seed, from which young plants are raised ; or in 

 default of them, they may be renewed by cuttings. 



CLIVEA (Lindley). A lately introduced hexan- 

 drious plant from the Cape of Good Hope, named in 

 honour of the present Duchess of Northumberland. 

 Generic character : flowers in an umbel ; perianth 

 tubular, six-parted, deciduous, parts connivent, the 

 exterior shortest ; stamens inserted in the tube, equal 

 with each other, and with the tube ; anthers versatile ; 

 style filiform ; stigma trifid ; berry of one seed. This 

 plant has some resemblance to CyrtantJuu; but 

 differs from that genus in having versatile anthers, 

 and a one-seeded berry. The bottom of the stem is 

 but very moderately bulbous ; grows best in rich 

 loam, and requires a temperate part of the stove to 

 flower in. As it has already ripened seeds in this 

 country it will no doubt soon be in every collection. 

 It was called Imatophyllum by Dr. Hooker till it 

 flowered, and was described by Dr. Lindley. 



CLIVINA (Latreille). A genus of coleopterous 

 insects, belonging to the section Pcntamcra, family 

 CarabidcB, and sub-family Scaritides. These insects 

 are of small size, narrow form, with the thorax sepa- 

 rated from the elytra by a narrow peduncle ; the fore 

 legs are pal mated, and formed for burrowing. They 

 are found under stones, at the roots of trees, in 

 damp situations, beneath rejectamenta of floods, &c. 

 There are two British species, one of which, the 

 Tcncbrio fossor, Linnaeus, is about a quarter oi 

 an inch long, and of a black pitchy colour. By 

 the French entomologists, the genus Dyschirius o 

 Panzer, &c. is united with the preceding; it is 

 however, distinguished by the globose form of the 

 thorax, and some other characters. There are about 

 a dozen British species ; of the latter, some of whicl 

 are amongst the smallest insects belonging to the 

 CarabidcE ; they are found on the sea-coast, the banks 

 of streams, &c. Their habits are very voracious 

 preying upon other insects. 



CLOTHO (De Faujus). A fossil shell of an ova 

 form, subregular, longitudinally striped, equivalve 

 subequilateral hinge, formed by one bifid tooth, hook 

 shaped, rather larger on one valve than the other 

 the ligament external. 



CLOUDBERRY is the Rubus chamcemorus o 

 Linnaeus. This plant is found on the mountains i 

 the north of England and Scotland, and is a lov 

 bramble-looking undershrub. It belongs to the na 

 tural order Rosace<B. 



CLOVE or CARNATION is the Dianthu 

 Caryophyllus of botanists, and the improved variet} 

 of the clove of florists. It ranks as the chief of stag 

 flowers, as it combines elegance of form with variet 

 and delicacy of colours, and to these is added th 

 most delightful fragrance. No plant requires mor 

 of the florist's attention than the carnation ; to hav 

 flowers in the greatest perfection, new plants must b 

 raised every year. Not but that old plants \\\ 

 NAT. HIST. VOL. II. 



ontinue to yield flowers for several 3 ears; but these 

 eing those of branches, are never so large or so tine 

 s those on the central stem of a maiden plant. 

 5foung plants are obtained by layering the lower 

 ranches of the last year's layers ; and though these 

 e only the points of the secondary shoots, yet when 

 eparated from the parent stock, they become as 

 ndependent beings, and ten times more vigorous 

 and amplified, than if they remained on their original 

 oots. 



The cultivation of choice carnations forms a prin- 

 ;ipal part of the florist's business. They have distinct 

 names ; and the superior sorts, especially if they are 

 new, sell at high prices. New varieties are obtained 

 "rom seed ; but very finest age or prize flowers occur 

 )ut as one in a thousand inferiors. A seedling of pro- 

 mising merit, may, by judicious culture, be advanced 

 to rank with the best ; and it is by accident, and such 

 means, that our present stock of fine carnations have 

 jeen in course of time obtained. 



The standard choice sorts are perpetuated by an- 

 nual layering. This is performed about the time, or 

 soon after the plants are in flower. If cultivated as 

 stage flowers, they are kept in pots, and of a pretty 

 arge size, in order that their branches may be conve- 

 niently layered. If cultivated in beds, there they 

 are also layered ; because there must be an annual 

 supply of young plants, as well for beds as for pots. 



Carnations are layered like other plants : the lower 

 branches, which would not flower till the following 

 year, (supposing them to be left on the parent stool) 

 are chosen ; an incision is made with a keen pen- 

 knife, entered a little below the third or fourth joint 

 from the top, and passed up the middle of the shoot 

 as far as the next joint. This separated piece is 

 called the tongue, and when the little piece below 

 the bottom joint is cut square off, it is ready to be 

 fixed in the soil. In layering, a little fresh compost 

 is usually laid round the plant to receive the layers. 

 In this, little furrows are made, and in which that 

 part of the layer between the tongue and the root, is 

 bent down and firmly lixed by a little hooked stick. 

 The layer is then covered with about three quarters 

 of an inch of the compost, and at the same time the 

 point of the layer is gently raised upright, taking 

 care that the tongue be kept apart from the place 

 whence it was cut, and pressing the soil pretty closely 

 over and around the point of the layer, to keep it in 

 place. 



New roots are soon produced at the lower end of 

 the tongue, and towards the end of September are 

 fit to be taken from the stools, and planted in beds or 

 pots previously prepared for them. 



Some florists are very curious in forming their 

 carnation compost; mixing together many different 

 substances, as loam, sand, leaf-mould, and rotten 

 dung of various kinds. Such a compost may be very 

 suitable ; but many successful cultivators use only the 

 freshest maiden loam, made sufficiently rich and 

 porous by a third part of thoroughly decomposed 

 stable or old hot-bed dung. In this, carnations, whe- 

 ther in pots or in beds, thrive and flower in the 

 highest perfection, provided they receive all other 

 necessary treatment. 



The management of carnations consists, not only 

 in placing the layers in suitable soil, but in taking 

 care that, if potted, the pots be well drained, so that 

 water may not stagnate within, which would mate- 

 rially check the growth, and spoil the beauty of the 

 E 



