Cullivation of the Carnation and Picoiee. -353 



one stamen at a time, as frequently two or three stamens will 

 contain sufficient farina for fertilizing one carnation ; a small 

 quantity sufficing when properly applied. By using a fine 

 camel-hair pencil for removing the farina from the stamens of 

 one to the style of the other, several can be fertilized with 

 one favorite sort. About the second day after inoculation, 

 provided it has taken effect, the petals invariably collapse, and 

 the bloom fades ; the change taking place sooner with a bloom 

 that is just at its full expansion, than with one which is five or 

 six days older. Every attention must be devoted to prevent- 

 ing the blooms being exposed to much rain, either immedi- 

 ately before or for some time subsequent to inoculation, it 

 proving fatal to the accomplishment of the end here de- 

 signed ; nor should the flowers be disturbed by violent wind, 

 but hang down while in flower, if not under glass, sufficient- 

 ly to prevent a lodgment of wet in the calyx, which, as has 

 been already remarked, has a tendency to rot the seed ; and 

 they had better be retained in that position until the petals 

 are decayed, when they may be loosened and the petals care- 

 fully removed — one at a time, lest you break the seed vessel 

 or injure the styles, which should be carefully avoided, leav- 

 ing them in their inclining position as before. A favorite 

 sort might be fertilized with its own farina, if it cannot be 

 improved by a cross, and this is performed by laying hold of 

 the bloom at the time the farina is perceived to be loose upon 

 the anthers, and drawing the petals upwards, closing and 

 gently pressing them with a slight twist ; which operation 

 will generally lodge nearly all the farina upon the style. Let 

 it be borne in mind, that in order to afford the seed a fair 

 chance of ripening, which in a wet season is very difficult, 

 the sooner the fertilizing process is accomplished the better ; 

 as also that the leading bloom will invariably produce the 

 finest seed. After the seed is gathered, which must not take 

 place until it is fully ripe, the same being indicated by the 

 pericarp becoming dark, somewhat approaching to black, let 

 it remain in a dry place until January ; then clean and put it 

 into a bottle hermetically sealed ; or the seeds may even re- 

 main in the pods upon a shelf, or in a shallow open box, in a 



VOL. XIX. NO. VIII. 45 



