256 PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE. 



system, now so universally adopted to produce the 

 flowers of the Carnation and Rose in winter, subject 

 them to a treatment similar to that proper for tropical 

 plants ; and this continued violation of their natural 

 requirements of culture, results in the evil alluded to. I 

 never like to refer to any disease or other trouble among 

 plants, without being able to suggest a remedy. In the 

 Carnation we would advise that, instead of propagat- 

 ing them as usual from cuttings made in spring, from 

 plants that have been forced all winter, that cuttings 

 be taken at the time plants are lifted in fall ; after they 

 are rooted, the young plants may be kept in a cold 

 green-house or frame during winter. The same plan 

 might be adopted with the Roses forced in winter, if the 

 plants are wanted for summer flowering in the open 

 ground. I know it is not always convenient to do so, 

 but when it is, I think it will be found a good method to 

 maintain the vitality of the stock. This is now our own 

 method and our stock both of Roses and Carnations have 

 been much benefited since we adopted it. 



CHAPTER XLIX. 

 NATUEE'S LAW OF COLORS. 



It has long been a belief among students in vegetable 

 physiology, that, in certain families of plants, particular 

 colors prevail, and that in no single instance can we ever 

 expect to see blue, yellow, and scarlet colors in varieties 

 of the same species ; yet, undeviating as this law seems 

 to be, it is astonishing to see the credulity that there is, 

 even among intelligent horticulturists, some of whom 

 believe that we will yet have exceptions to this law, 

 which, as far as all our experience has gone, seems as m- 



