CAE 



J 



CAH 



C. austra'lia (southern). 2. Blue. June. N. 

 Holland. 1800. 



CARNATION. (Dia'nthus caryophy'l- 

 lus.) Propagation by Layers. The latter 

 end of July and beginning of August is 

 the best time for this operation. By 

 performing it thus early the layers be- 

 come rooted in time to be taken off, 

 potted, and well established before 

 winter. Having a very sharp, small 

 knife, some fresh-sifted compost of light 

 loam and leaf-mould in equal parts, and 

 some hooked pegs (the best are made of 

 the fronds of the common Fern, or, when 

 they cannot be had,of birch or hazel-twigs ) , 

 proceed to dress the stem intended to be 

 layered by trimming off the bottom leaves, 

 leaving about six on, nearest to the top. 

 Do not shorten those left on. If there 

 are more in the pot than can be con- 

 veniently layered, take the surplus ones 

 off, and" make pipings of them. Dress 

 all intended to be layered in one pot 

 before any are tongued. This prevents 

 breakage and confusion. Then tongue 

 the layer; to do which, hold the first 

 layer on one side, and with the knife 

 make an incision on the under-side, just 

 below the third joint, bringing the knife 

 slanting upward through the joint ; then 

 drop the knife, and with the other hand 

 take up a hooked peg, thrust the sharp 

 end into the soil, catching the layer with 

 the hooked end of the peg as it descends ; 

 press it gently but firmly down to the 

 soil. Proceed with the layer next to the 

 one done, and so on all round the plants, 

 till the first pot is finished; then cover 

 the slit joint an inch deep with the com- 

 post, and proceed to the next pot or plant. 

 It is not advisable to water the newly-lay- 

 ered plants the first day, because with- 

 holding it will give time for the wounds 

 to heal a little. 



Soil. The best compost to grow and 

 bloom carnations in is three parts loam, 

 taken from an upland pasture, the top 

 turf four inches thick; lay it up in a 

 heap for twelve months, turning it over 

 once a month, to sweeten and pulverize, 

 and looking out diligently for the wire- 

 worm, the grand end of the carnation. 

 One part two-years-old cow-dung, and 

 one part well-decayed vegetable-mould. 

 Mix them together three months before 

 using, and turn them over together three 

 or four times. 



Spring and Summer Culture. About 

 the end of March is the right time to put 



the carnations into their blooming pots. 

 They are generally grown in pairs ; but 

 this is not a necessary point. The pots 

 for blooming should be eleven inches 

 across, well drained with broken potsherds, 

 and the compost not sifted : but in using 

 it keep a sharp eye upon the wire -worm. 

 As soon as all are potted, set them upon 

 a bed of coal-ashes, in a sheltered part 

 of the garden ; give water when necessary. 

 Whenever the plants begin to send up 

 their flower-stems, place sticks to them 

 of the size and height they will require 

 when in bloom. Tie very slackly, or the 

 stems will become knee'd, and perhaps 

 break ; to prevent which, pay attention 

 constantly to the ties. 



When the buds are nearly full-grown, 

 thin out the least promising, leaving the 

 most plump and healthy. Just before 

 they break, or burst, place an India- 

 rubber ling round each bud, or a ribband 

 of bass-mat ; this prevents the buds 

 bursting on one side. Shade them from 

 sun and heavy rains. 



Autumn and Winter Culture. As soon 

 as the bloom is over, cut down the flower- 

 stems, and expose the plants to the full 

 sun and rain. Take off the layers 

 as soon as they are rooted ; put them 

 into 5 -inch pots, in pairs; place them 

 in cold frames, shading them from the 

 sun until they make fresh roots ; then 

 expose them again to the weather till the 

 winter frosts begin to take place ; and 

 then keep the lights on, protecting them 

 from heavy rains and frost ; but, on all 

 favourable occasions, during mild, fine 

 weather, draw the lights entirely off 

 during the day, shutting them up at night, 

 and covering them up securely whenever 

 there is an appearance of severe frost. 



Forcing. Carnations may be success- 

 fully forced, choosing the freest growers, 

 potting them singly, early, into 8-inch 

 pots, and placing them in gentle heat 

 (55) early in January. There is a 

 variety called the Tree Carnation, which 

 answers best for forcing. Lately there 

 have been imported from the Continent 

 several handsome and full - flowering 

 Tree Carnations, which are a great addi- 

 tion to our winter flowers. To bloom 

 these in the greatest perfection, they 

 should not be allowed to flower the first 

 year, but should be re-potted, when 

 rooted, into 8-inch pots, the tops nip- 

 ped off to make them bushy, and no 

 flower-stems allowed to rise till the 



