352 Cultivation of the Carnation and Picotee. 



whatever. Those that possess the largest and roundest petals, 

 with the smoothest edge, are to be preferred, from which to 

 collect the seed ; but flowers that have long, narrow, flimsy- 

 petals, or serrated edges, with a disposition to reflex or turn 

 backwards, should be discarded. 



SEEHLINGS. 



From what has been stated above, it will have been per- 

 ceived that the seed itself is remarkably inconstant, producing 

 many varieties from that contained in the same pod, and un- 

 less attended by a continuance of hot weather prolonged far 

 into the autumn to aflfard sufficient time for ripening, it will 

 not prove very abundant ; semi-double flowers, however, 

 being by far the most productive. Before the anthers have 

 burst, a few of the inner petals and all the stamens should be 

 carefully extracted with a small pair of scissors or tweezers, 

 which will prevent the petals from retaining the wet ; for 

 when the flower begins to fade, and the pericarp or seed 

 vessel is observed to swell, any moisture retained by the 

 petals would cause the embryo to rot. In performing the 

 operation here recommended, take care that the styles which 

 appear above the blooms, like horns, remain entire and un- 

 touched, as likewise two or three of the outer rows of petals. 

 A similar operation to that just described, is required to be 

 performed upon the blooms which are to produce the pollen ; 

 but here you must very carefully remove a portion of the 

 inner petals by cutting them oflT just below the stamens, 

 taking care not to pull them, or the stamens will also be ex- 

 tracted ; then cut off" the stigma down to the pericarp, leaving 

 the stamens entire. This operation, however, should also be 

 performed before the anthers are burst. The blooms may, if 

 gathered, be kept in a bottle of water, in a sunny window, till 

 the anthers open, and the farina or fertilizing powder has be- 

 come rather loose upon them, when it should be carefully 

 carried to the bloom intended for the seed parent, upon the 

 style of which you must endeavor to lodge all the farina you 

 can ; or, in order to make the most of the farina of a favorite 

 carnation, you may carefully extract with a pair of tweezers 



