74 



THE CARNATION. 



leaves dried again as soon as you can. If kept too 

 dry any length of time together, I have observed 

 that the stem loses its pith, and becomes like a dry 

 hollow reed: steer between the two extremes, and 

 you will do right. 



ON SEED AND SEEDLINGS. 



I HAVE already transgressed the limits which I had 

 prescribed to myself in setting out ; I will therefore 

 close the subject with a few cursory remarks on 

 Seed and Seedlings. 



The Carnation is not a prolific seed-bearer: it 

 often happens, that out of two hundred blooming 

 plants, you will not be able to get even two pods of 

 perfect seed. The reason may be accounted for in 

 this way : first, because it is a flower that blows late 

 in the summer, and has not time always to ripen its 

 seed, especially in a wet one ; secondly, because the 

 Carnations that are usually cultivated are so very 

 double, as to preclude in a great measure the ex* 



