VII. LTST OF FLOWERS. 



stalk of the carnation should rise to near three feet, and 

 the bud should be long and uniform, not bursting but at 

 its top to let out the flower, or, if appearing likely to 

 burst at the side, it is as well to open corresponding 

 apertures at two other places, so as to let out the 

 flower evenly all round. The plant is hardy, but to blow 

 well, it should be defended from excess of wet, especially 

 the wet of the beginning of winter, as it renders it more 

 susceptible of frost; and yet it is necessary to avoid 

 stifling it. It cannot do without a free circulation 

 of air, therefore whatever covering of mats or otherwise 

 you use, be careful to keep it off at all times but in con- 

 stant rain. To propagate by layers, take some compost 

 of one of the two kinds that I mention below as proper 

 for this plant ; stir the ground with a small hoe round 

 the plant from which you are going to make your layers, 

 and place the compost round on the newly-moved earth ; 

 then take as many of the stalks as you mean to lay (let 

 it be about the time of their being in full bloom) j fix 

 your knife (a sharp narrow-bladed one) in at an inch 

 below the third joint from the blossom, and bring it up 

 the middle of the stalk until you enter the joint, which 

 you must scarcely divide in two : there stop, then, and 

 pull out your knife. Bend down the stalk to the earth, 

 and make a little drill with your two fore-fingers of one 

 hand, sufficient to hide the whole of the split and a little 

 more at each end of it j put a little wooden peg with a 

 hook to it into the side of the drill, and push it into the 

 ground so far as for it to come down and fix the stalk at 

 the bottom of the drill where you are holding it, and then 

 cover over with compost, pressing it gently down with 

 the flat of your hand. By pipings, about the first of July, 



