48 



THE CARNATION. 



if they had been parboiled and scalded. If the 

 grass appears short and backward for laying, water 

 once or twice a week, with a weak infusion of horse 

 or sheep dung, prepared in a tub for that purpose ; 

 this wash will both promote the growth of the layers, 

 and give a depth and richness of colouring to such 

 flowers as are apt to come pale and short of it. 



As soon as the side-shoots appear, they should be 

 stripped off, to give strength to the main stem. To 

 flowers which you intend to exhibit, if a small or 

 thinnish one, leave only two pods on a stem ; to a 

 large or full one, leave three ; there are many excep- 

 tions ; some require nearly the whole to be left on. 



In order to prevent the pods from bursting, or 

 opening irregularly, a small piece of bass-mat dipt 

 in water should be carefully tied round the middle of 

 each pod, but not before it is nearly full-formed ; it 

 will also require easing from time to time, as the pod 

 continues to increase and grow. 



If you perceive the pod inclined to burst on one 

 side, give ease to it on the other also, by slitting the 

 cup with a sharp knife, or with a thin bit of ivory, 



