THE CARNATION. 277 



a favorite flower, not only for the beauty but for the 

 delightful fragrance of its blossoms. It is a native of 

 Germany, and it is occasionally found in an apparently 

 wild state in England. The cultivation of it, however, is 

 by no means easy, but calls forth all the resources of the 

 florist. The varieties, which are very numerous, have been 

 arranged under three heads : Flakes, having two colors, 

 with their stripes running quite through and along the 

 petals ; Bizarres, irregularly spotted, and striped with not 

 fewer than three colors ; Picotees, .spotted, with serrated or 

 fringed petals. Mr. Hogg, who has written a treatise ex- 

 pressly on this flower, has given a catalogue of nearly 350 

 sorts. 



Carnations are propagated by layers or pipings : the 

 former method is most practiced, but with some sorts 

 piping, it is said, should be preferred. Layering is per' 

 formed when the plant is in full bloom. Proper shoots 

 are selected ; a few of the lower leaves are then removed ; 

 an incision is made a little below a suitable joint, passing 

 up to the joint, but not through it ; the shoot is then peg- 

 ged down and covered with some fresh soil, the tip being 

 left above ground. Layers are generally found to be root- 

 ed in about a month after the operation has been perform- 

 ed. Pipings are little cuttings, separated at a joint, and 

 planted thickly under bell-glasses on a slight hotbed. 

 They require great attention, and are precarious in their 

 success, but form excellent plants. 



Numerous directions have been given respecting com- 

 posts for carnations. We abridge those of Hogg, who is 

 the principal authority in this matter. Take three bar- 

 rows of loam, one and a half of garden mould, two of horse- 

 dung, and one of coarse sand; let these be mixed, and 

 thrown into a heap, and turned over two or three times in 



