JUNE AND JULY.] FLOWER GARDEN CARNATIONS, &c. 275 



second year ; therefore when the old bulbs are lifted, 

 they ought to be immediately planted, and receive every 

 encouragement to strengthen them for flowering. 

 Crocus satlvus, C. Pallasii, C. scrotlnus, and C. nudiflorus, 

 and all the species of Colchicum, with species of several 

 other genera not introduced into the country. They 

 should all be lifted as soon as the foliage is decayed, 

 and kept only a few weeks out of the ground, and then 

 again replanted in fresh soil. The economy of the 

 genus Colchicum in regard to its bulbs, flowers, and seeds, 

 is altogether singular, and may be termed an anomaly 

 of nature. In producing the new bulbs or off-sets in a 

 very curious manner, the old one perishes. The flowers 

 which arise with long slender tubes from the root die 

 off in October, without leaving any external appearance 

 of seeds. These lie buried all the winter within the 

 bulb, in spring they grow upon a fruit stalk, and are 

 ripe about the first of June. How beautiful and admi- 

 rable is this provision! The plant blooming so late in 

 the year, would not have time to mature its seeds be- 

 fore winter ; and is, therefore, so contrived that it may 

 be performed out of the reach of the usual effects of 

 frost, and they are brought above the surface when 

 perfected, and at a proper season for sowing. 



CARNATIONS AND PINKS. 



In order to make the former flower well, if the wea- 

 ther is dry, give them frequent waterings at the root, 

 and tie them up neatly to their rods. The criterion of 

 a fine carnation is the stem strong and straight, from 



