14 



THE CARNATION. 



leaves in each row or tier, till they are all arranged 

 in a convex form, like the outside of a dome or 

 cupola ; place the bizarred and finely-striped leaves 

 in full sight, pluck out all white or self-coloured, 

 all pouncy and superfluous dull leaves ; and those 

 that will not lie, whirl with your bodkin into the 

 crown of the flower ; let the blooms be set in the 

 cellar, or coolest part of the house, all night over a 

 tub of water ; mind that the clefts or fissures down 

 the sides of the pod do not reach below the bottom 

 external cup, and that the guard-leaves stand firm 

 and support themselves without the card. A prac- 

 tical lesson, after all, upon the flower is worth a 

 dozen theoretical upon paper : learn this art by 

 practice, and practise to learn. 



The show-day is an anxious day with a young 

 florist : he is full of hopes and fears, and it is not 

 less so with an old one, for ' the battle is not always 

 to the strong, nor the race to the swift ; ' for there 

 are instances without number where many an old 

 experienced, good florist has been beat, and obliged 

 to return home, alas ! without either silver cup, silver 



