134 THE TREE PROPAGATOR AND PLANTER. 



structed varieties, but it is a most fastidious species to 

 deal with : nothing will save the plants from total 

 failure at times. The seed should be sown in the spring, 

 in seed-pans filled with the same soil as for Primula, 

 Chinensis. The soil should be watered first, and then the 

 seed should be sown and subjected to a moist mild heat. 

 It would vegetate more quickly if it were first soaked 

 for 3 or 4 hours in warm water in which a few grains 

 of sulphate of ammonia had been dissolved — 5 grains of 

 the ammonia to a half-pint of water is about the safe 

 quantity to use. Let the seed lie in this solution for 4 

 or 6 hours, then drain off the water, dry it by laying it 

 between two sheets of blotting-paper, pressing them 

 tog-ether, and then sow the seed immediatelv. 



The Primula Cortusoides is a hardy border plant, 

 and may be treated like the Polyanthus, by seed and b} r 

 division of the root. All the single Primroses may be 

 multiplied by seed sown in the spring, and all the 

 double ones must be propagated by offshoots or by 

 division of the root. 



The Carnation. — The propagation of the Carnation, 

 Picotee, and Pink is by one and the same process : by 

 seed for new sorts, and by pipings and layers for mul- 

 tiplying all standard sorts, or any kind to be preserved. 

 The seed should be sown in the month of March or 

 April, in fine good ground in the open air, or in deep 

 seed-pans, and set in a cold frame. The piping and 

 layering should be done in June or July. " Piping " is 

 nothing- more nor less than cuttings of the voting grass 

 taken off with 3 or 4 joints without any flower on them, 

 cut at right angles immediately below the third joint 

 from the top. Pull off the leaves by a sudden jerk, 

 and insert them in pots or deep seed-pans filled with one 

 part of maiden soil, one part of leaf-mould, and one part 

 of silver sand, sifted fine all together. Water the pipings, 

 and set them in a close cold frame ; or they may be 

 advantageously plunged in a very mild bottom heat. 

 Pink pipings will do very well inserted thickly under 

 a handlight in the same compost on a warm, border. 



Layering is done on the spot where the plant is 



