'.*.:. V. ;,.; 



JUNE AND JULY.] FLOWER GARDEN CARNATIONS, &c. 277 



the petals, and about the centre of the calyx tie a thread 

 three or four times round to prevent any farther irre- 

 gularity. Some florists and connoisseurs place cards 

 on them. This is done when the calyx is small. Take 

 a piece of thin pasteboard, about the size of a dollar; 

 cut a small aperture in its centre to admit the bud to 

 pass through. When on tie it tight to the rod, to pre- 

 vent the wind from blowing it about ; and when the 

 flower is expanded, draw up the card to about the mid- 

 dle of the calyx, and spread the petals one over the other 

 regularly upon it. When these plants are in flower, 

 their beauty may be prolonged by giving them a little 

 shade from the mid-day sun by an awning of any simple 

 description. Where they are in pots, they can be re- 

 moved to a cool shady situation, (but not directly un- 

 der trees.) 



OF LAYING CARNATIONS AND PINKS. 



This is a necessary and yearly operation to keep a 

 supply of plants, and likewise to have them always in 

 perfection. As the process of laying, though simple, may 

 not be known to all who are desirous of cultivating 

 these plants, we will give an outline of the mode of 

 operation. Provide first a quantity of small hooked 

 twigs (pieces of Asparagus stems are very suitable) 

 about three inches long, for pegging the layers down in 

 the earth. Select the outward strongest and lowest 

 shoots that are round the plant, trim off a few of the 

 under leaves, and shorten with the knife the top ones 

 even, and then applying it at a joint about the middle 



