THE CARNATION. 



583 



the stem examined, especially at its lower part, 

 in case ,of any unsound spots. If these are 

 found they are to be cut out, and the part stopped 

 up after it has been dried in the sun, with equal 

 parts of bees' wax and pitch, softened witli 

 heat. 



The new pot is now to be lialf filled with 

 compost, having: previously put a piece of pitcher 

 or oxyster shell, witli the convex side uppermost, 

 over the hole in the bottom. The plant is then 

 to be put into the pot, carefully spreading out 

 and covering its fibres with the composts. 



The proper depth of planting is within about 

 half an inch of the bottom of the lowest out- 

 side leaves. For as the new and most valuable 

 fibres proceed from that part, so they should 

 immediately meet with earth to strike into, or 

 otherwise they will perish. It will likewise 

 encourage the offsets, if there be any, to strike 

 root sooner than they would do if not in con- 

 tact with the soil. During the summer blow, 

 the auriculas must be placed in a situation shaded 

 from the sun and rains; and in winter, in a situ- 

 ation protected from the weather. A summer 

 and winter stage made of wood, with folding 

 covers, are in use by gardeners. The summer 

 stage should be placed on coal ashes, to protect 

 the pots from the common earth worm; or it 

 may be placed on a layer of open brick work, 

 in order to afford a free circulation of air. 



As auriculas and hyacinths bloom about the 

 same time, a pleasing variety is afforded by 

 having their flowers in juxtaposition. 



The Carn'atiox C dianthiis caryophyllus ) . 

 Natural family caryopliyllece ; decandria, digynia, 

 of Linnfeus. The natural family to which this 

 species belongs, contains a number of flowers 

 possessed of considerable beauty, and esteemed 

 for their fragrant odour, that of tlie carnation 

 resembling the odour of cloves, though more 

 delicate, and not so pungent. The carnation is 

 indigenous to Britain, but is rare in a wild state; 

 it is found growing plentifully on the southern 

 sides of the Swiss Alps. This garden flower 

 was probably introduced into Britain from Ger- 

 many or Italy, in which countries it has been 

 long cultivated and esteemed, although it does 

 not appear to have been known to the ancients. 

 In 1597, Gerarde got plants of this flower from 

 Poland. It is now one of the greatest favourites 

 of the parterre. "Of all the flowers that adorn 

 tlie garden," says Hogg, "whether they charm 

 the eye by their beauty, or regale the sense of 

 smelling by their fragrance, this may justly be 

 said to hold the first rank. The stateliness of 

 its growth, the brilliancy and diversity of its 

 colours, and the sweetness of its perfume, never 

 fail to attract our regard and admiration. The 

 tulip, though styled the queen of the garden, 

 cannot boast of more admirers. They may with 

 propriety l)e considered the two masterpieces of 



nature; and though rival beauties, may be said 

 to share the sovereignty of the garden equally 

 between them. Yet it must be admitted that 

 the carnation, independent of its fragrance, has 

 this advantage over its rival, that it continues 

 longer in bloom; and that when planted in pots, 

 it can be removed to decorate the green-house, 

 the conservatory, or the drawing room." They 

 have accordingly found a place in the parterres 

 of the nobility, as well as in the cottage plot of 

 the peasant. 



The varieties of this flower are very numer- 

 ous, and have been arranged into the following 

 classes : 



Flakes, having two colours only, and the 

 stripes large, going quite through the petals. 



Bizarres, variegated in irregular spots and 

 stripes, with not less than three colours. 



Picotces, with a white ground, spotted, or 

 pounced with scarlet, red, purple, or other 

 colours. 



Only double flowers are held in estimation. 

 There is a variety called the tree carnation, with 

 suffruticose stems, which may be trained against 

 a wall or trellis, to the height of five or six feet, 

 and will live for six years, flowering every year. 



In a fine carnation, the stem should be strong, 

 tall, and straight, not less than thirty, or more 

 than forty-five inches in height. The footstalks 

 supporting the flowers should be strong, elastic, 

 and of a proportionate length. The corolla 

 should be at least three inches in diameter, con- 

 sisting of a gi-eat number of large, well-formed 

 petals; but neither so many, as to give it too 

 full and crowded an appearance; nor so few, as 

 to make it appear too thin and empty. Tlie 

 petals should be long, broad, and substantial, 

 particularly those of the lower or outer'circle, 

 commonly called the guard leaves. These should 

 rise perpendicularly about half an inch above 

 the calyx, and then turn off gracefully in a hori- 

 zontal direction, supporting the interior petals, 

 and altogether forming a convex, and nearly 

 hemispherical corolla. The interior petals should 

 rather decrease in size as they approach the 

 centre of the flower, which should be well filled 

 with them. The petals should be regularly dis- 

 posed alike on every side, folding over each other 

 in such a manner, as that both their individual 

 and combined beauties may be obvious at the 

 same instant. They should be nearly flat, 

 although a small degree of concavity or inflec- 

 tion, at the lamina or broad end, is allowable. 

 But their edges should be perfectly entire, that 

 is, free from notch, fringe, or indenture. The 

 calyx should be at least one inch in length, ter- 

 minating with broad points, sufficiently strong 

 to hold the narrow bases of the petals in a close 

 and circular body. 



Whatever colours the flower may be possessed 

 of, they should be perfectly distinct, and disposed 



