448 THE PLEASURE, OR [JUNE 



outer circle of petals, commonly called the guard leaves, should be 

 particularly substantial ; they should rise perpendicularly about half 

 an inch above the calyx, and then turn off gracefully in a horizontal 

 direction, supporting the interior petals, which should decrease gradu- 

 ally in size as they approach the centre, which should be well filled 

 with them. All the petals should be regularly disposed and lie over 

 each other in such a manner as that their respective and united 

 beauties may meet the eye altogether ; they should be nearly flat, or, 

 at most, have but a small degree of inflection at the broad end ; their 

 edges should be perfectly entire (or what is called rose-leaved), with- 

 out notch, fringe, or indenture. The calyx should be at least an 

 inch in length, sufficiently strong at the top to keep the base of the 

 petals in a close and circular body. The colors should be distinct, 

 and the stripes regular, narrowing gradually to the claws of the petal, 

 and there ending in a fine point. Almost one-half of each petal 

 should be of a clear white, and free from spots. 



Bizards, or such as contain two or more colors upon a white ground, 

 are esteemed rather preferable to Flakes, which have but one, espe- 

 cially when their colors are remarkably rich and very regularly dis- 

 tributed. 



Scarlet, purple, and pink, are the three colors most predominant 

 in the carnation; the first two are seldom to be met with in the same 

 flower, but the purple and pink very frequently. 



PROPAGATING CARNATIONS BY LAYING AND PIPING. 



When carnations, &c., are propagated in the open air, by their 

 shoots or layers connected with the mother plant, the operation is 

 called laying ; but when they are propagated by cuttings taken from 

 the original plant, and by the assistance of artificial means caused to 

 strike root in a confined air, it is called piping them. 



The operation of laying, or piping, is to commence as soon as the 

 plants are in full bloom; nevertheless, those who are particularly 

 desirous to preserve their bloom in the greatest perfection, may defer 

 it till the flowers are on the decline ; but others, anxious to have their 

 plants strong and well rooted early in autumn, with a view that the 

 layers may be better prepared to endure the severities of the ensuing 

 winter, begin to lay at the commencement of the bloom ; at which 

 time, the plants being full of juices and vigor, the layers are the 

 better nourished and supported, and soon strike root ; but it must be 

 allowed that the bloom is considerably impaired by the wounds 

 inflicted in the operation, particularly so when performed in an early 

 stage of it; the old plants seldom survive unless very strong and 

 sound, or some of the upper young shoots be left, such as are too 

 short to be laid with convenience; these will encourage and continue 

 the circulation of the juices if suffered to remain. 



Previous to entering on the operation of laying, you must be pro- 

 vided with a sufficient number of wooden or other pegs, each to be 

 about five or six inches long, and formed somewhat like the figure 7, 

 that is, with a short hooked end. The operator should, likewise, be 

 provided with a table, on which to place the pots, when the plants 



