222 THE MANSE GARDEN. 



and 4. Painted-ladies, the colour being only on the 

 upper surface of the petals, the sarcastic name, it is 

 hoped, may soon be banished. The carnation, accord- 

 ing to critics, should have a strong three-feet stem, 

 like a cane arrow; the flower three inches in diame- 

 ter, and opening equally on all sides : the burstlike 

 appearance, owing to defect of constitution, which it 

 often assumes, is ruinous of all character; and hence 

 the vile trick amongst competitors of tying the neck 

 with a thread up to the very day of exhibition. Any 

 thing like fringe on the edge of a petal is not to be 

 looked at. If polling might pass for natural round- 

 ness, the scissors would as certainly be applied to 

 the fringe as to the feathers of a game cock before 

 fighting. The petals should be as thick as to give 

 the richness of a double flower, but without the 

 crowding that causes weakness, and should regularly 

 decrease in breadth as they approach the centre, 

 forming an elegant crownlike figure, rolled in at the 

 circumference arid almost level on the top. The 

 colours should be bright and distinct, the stripes nar- 

 rowing with the petals towards the base, and leaving 

 one half to the ground colour without spot or mark. 

 The best soil for carnations is good loam enriched 

 with well rotted stable dung and quickened with a 

 little sand. The quantity of manure can only be 

 determined by the previous strength of the ground ; 

 if made too rich the flowers will lose their fine colours, 

 if left too poor they will want vigour. No recent 

 manure should ever come near any fine plant. Let 

 the ground be prepared before winter with dung, and 

 a rough furrow laid up to the frost. In April give 

 a fresh digging, and plant in rows three feet by two. 



