CARNATIONS. 153 



LETTER IX. 



September. 



I HAVE already said so much on the cul- 

 ture of carnations, that I fear I shall tire you ; 

 yet I must add, that if you have potted any lay- 

 ers, and they are already rooted, they should 

 be taken out of the frame, and a small quantity 

 of water given to them in dry weather. I have 

 written more on carnations than on any flower, 

 perhaps because I have myself raised so many 

 showy, (though not what are considered valua- 

 ble varieties,) that it has become my favourite 

 flower: besides, I find the seedlings easily 

 grown in borders. They flower at a time when 

 the blaze of hardy annuals and roses is past, 

 and before the most tender flowers begin to 

 blossom ; added to this, T think the perfume of 



