422 THE PLEASURE, OR [June. 



When the scarlet predominates, and is united with a paler colour, 

 or, as it sometimes happens, with a very deep purple upon a white 

 ground, it constitutes a scarlet lizard, of which there are many- 

 varieties, some richer and others paler in their colours, as is the 

 case with all the rest. 



Pink lizards, are so called when the pink abounds. Purple 

 bizards, when the purple abounds. Crimson lizards consist of a 

 deep purple and rich pink. 



When the p'mk flake is very high in colour it is distinguished by 

 the appellation of the rose flake; but there are some so nearly in 

 the medium between pink and scarlet that it can scarcely be 

 defined to which class they belong. 



Propagating Carnations by Laying and Piping. 



When carnations, &c. are propagated in the open air by their 

 shoots or layers connected with the mother plant, the operation is 

 called laying; but when they are propagated by cuttings taken 

 from the original plant, and by the assistance of artificial means 

 caused to strike root in a confined air, it is called piping them. 



The operation of laying or piping, is to commence as soon as the 

 plants are in full bloom; nevertheless, those who are particularly 

 desirous to preserve their bloom in the greatest perfection, may 

 defer it till the flowers are on the decline; but others anxious to 

 have their plants strong and well rooted early in autumn, with a 

 view that the layers may be better prepared to endure the severi- 

 ties of the ensuing winter, begin to lay at the commencement of 

 the bloom; at which time, the plants being full of juices and 

 vigour, the layers are the better nourished and supported, and 

 soon strike root: but it must be allowed that the bloom is consider- 

 ably impaired by the wounds inflicted in the operation, particu- 

 larly so when performed in an early stage of it; the old plants 

 seldom survive unless very strong and sound, or some of the upper 

 young shoots be left, such as are too short to be laid with conve- 

 nience; these will encourage and continue the circulation of the 

 juices if suffered to remain. 



Previous to entering on the operation of laying you must be pro- 

 vided with a sufficient number of wooden or other pegs, each to be 

 about five or six inches long, and formed somewhat like the figure 

 7, that is, with a short hooked end. The. operator should, likewise, 

 be provided with a table, on which to place the pots, for the greater 

 convenience in the examination, dressing, and laying of the shoots, 

 also with a sharp pen-knife, and some fresh compost earth. 



The layer may be supposed to have four or five joints, more or 

 less; the lower leaves next the root are all to be cut or stripped oft' 

 close to within two or three joints of the extremity of the layer, 

 and its extreme points are to be shortened by cutting the tops off 

 with the knife, so as to leave them only an inch and a half or two 

 inches in length from the joint whence they proceed. 



All the lavers in the pots are to be thus treated or prepared 

 before any further procedure be made; the surface of the earth is 



