CAR 



[198] 



CAR 



like a socket to receive the posts : and 

 is formed by a raised rim in the middle, 

 equal in height to that of the circum- 

 ference, and the hollow or socket so 

 formed as to receive the bottom of the 

 posts quite through to the ground ; and 

 the space between the outer and inner 

 rim is filled with water, so that each 

 post standing in the middle of such a cis- 

 tern sufficiently guards the plants against 

 creeping insects. 



For want of a covered stage to screen 

 the flowers, you may contrive a small 

 umbrella or round spreading cap, either 

 of tin or canvas, nine or ten inches 

 diameter, one for each plant ; having a 

 socket in the middle to receive the tops 

 of the support-sticks; those umbrellas, 

 which are formed of tin, are the best, 

 but if you make them of canvas, first 

 make little round frames, having the 

 rim formed with slips of wire, cane, &c., 

 the above width, with cross slips of the 

 same materials ; contriving a socket of 

 lead or tin in the middle for the support- 

 stick to go quite through, as justobserved ; 

 and upon these frames paste or sew 

 canvas, which paint with oil-colour ; 

 either covers are placed over the flowers 

 by running the support- stick up through 

 the hole or socket in the middle, and 

 resting the cap upon a piece of wire or 

 peg, put across through holes in the 

 stick at such a height from the flower 

 as to screen it from the sun and rains. 



Give attention to continue to tie up 

 neatly the flower-stalks of the plants as 

 they advance in stature. When they 

 are arrived at their full height, support 

 them erect at top with wires, having a 

 small eye or ring at one end for the re- 

 ception of the flower-stalk ; so put the 

 other end into holes made in the sup- 

 port-sticks. These wires should be five 

 or six inches long, and several holes are 

 made in the upper part of the sticks ; 

 the first at the height of the bottom of 

 the flower-pod, the other above that, an 

 inch or two distant ; and place the wires 

 in the holes lower or higher, that the eye 

 or ring may be just even with the case 

 of the calyx, to support the flower in an 

 upright position; and by drawing the 

 wire less or more out, the flower is pre- 

 served at such distance from the support 

 as shall seem necessary to give it proper 



room to expand ; and if two or three of 

 the like wires are placed also in the 

 lower parts of the support-sticks, placing 

 the stem of the flowers also in the eye of 

 the wires, all the tyings maybe cut away. 



To have as large flowers as possible, 

 clear oft" all side shoots from the flower- 

 stem, suffering only the main or top buds 

 to remain to flower. 



When the flowers begin to open, at- 

 tendance should be given to promote 

 their regular expansion, they being apt 

 to burst open on one side ; and, unless 

 assisted by a little art, as by India- 

 rubber rings already noticed, the flower 

 will become very irregular ; therefore, 

 attending every day at that period, ob- 

 serve, as soon as the calyx begins to 

 break, to cut it a little open at two other 

 places in the inden tings at top, with 

 narrow-pointed scissars, that the open- 

 ings may be at equal distances, observ- 

 ing if one side of any flower comes out 

 faster than another, to turn the pot 

 about, that the other side of the flower 

 be next the sun, to assist the more re- 

 gular expansion of the flower. 



Likewise, to bloom any flowers as 

 spreading as possible, place paper collars 

 round the bottom of the flower, on 

 which to spread the petals to their ut- 

 most expansion ; these collars are made 

 of stiff white paper, cut circular, about 

 three or four inches diameter, having a 

 hole in the middle to receive the bottom 

 of the petals, withinside of the calyx, 

 the leaves of which are made to spread 

 flat for its support ; and then spread or 

 draw out the petals upon the collar to 

 their full width and extent, the longest 

 undermost, and the next longest upon 

 these, and so of the rest quite to the 

 middle, observing that the collar must 

 nowhere appear wider than the flower 

 when they begin to burst. 



Diseases. These plants are subject to 

 the mildew ; and when it is not checked 

 in time, it not only destroys the plants 

 it first appears on, but will in time 

 spread to the whole stock. As soon as 

 it is observed, sprinkle the affected 

 plants with sulphur, and keep the air 

 inside the frames as dry as possible. 

 The black spot is only mildew in a se- 

 verer form. Cut off the leaf on which 

 it appears, and treat as for mildew. 



