THE CARNATION. 291 



the curious cultivator. P. helvetica and nivalis adorn 

 the flower borders in spring with their abundant trusses 

 of blossom. P. marginata, when planted in a shady 

 situation, is equally lavish of its pale and delicately 

 beautiful flowers. P. viscosa and integrifolia, with their 

 intense colors, are the ornaments af the alpine frame ; 

 or, with P. longifolia, farinosa, and Scotica, may be 

 plunged into the margin of the American border. A 

 supply, however, should be kept in pots. Besides these, 

 w^e might name P. cortusoides, Pallasii, Pajinuri, and 

 others. The . curious P. verticillata, and the splendid 

 P. sinensis, are inmates of the green-house. Of this 

 last there is a white variety, and also a double-flowered 

 variety. The florist of simple taste will love them all. 



Tho Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) has long, 

 been 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 appa- 

 rently 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, irregu- 

 larly spotted, and striped with not fewer than three 

 colors ; Picotees, spotted, with serrated or fringed pe- 

 tals. Mr. Hogg, who, has written a treatise expressly 

 on this flower, has given u 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 phmt is in full bloom. Proper shoots 



