Cultivation of the Carnation and Picotee. 357 



to within about half an inch of the top with fresh riddled 

 mould from the soil heap hereinafter described, and with a 

 small taper stick make six or eight holes at equal distances 

 round each pot for the pipings, according to the slender or 

 robust habit of the plant, about an inch from the side ; or 

 those who prefer it can thrust the pipings into the soil, about 

 an inch and a half or two inches deep, gently pressing each of 

 them into an upright position with the soil towards the sides 

 of the pots, by means of their fingers, as they proceed ; then 

 level the tops by adding a little more soil, and plunge them 

 up to their rims into a nice dry border, or slight hot-bed, where 

 they can have the sun till about one o'clock. Make the 

 border smooth and level round the pots, and water them 

 through a small rose properly made, so that by holding the 

 rose just over the middle of the pot you can moisten each 

 without wetting the hearts and leaves of the pipings ; which 

 if not strictly avoided, and should cloudy weather ensue, it 

 will mildew and rot them. In watering, let the border be 

 well saturated round the pots, rather farther than the glasses 

 will compass. Proceed to label and number them, and make 

 an entry of the name of the sort contained in each ; for the 

 finest carnation is esteemed of but little value unless its cor- 

 rect name be ascertainable. Now press the glasses over them 

 sufficiently to make them air-tight, and this section of the 

 operation may be deemed complete. The due admission of 

 air and sunlight and judicious watering are the chief matters 

 that will afterwards require the vigilance of the cultivator. 

 If the weather be deemed too hot, let a light and thin cover, 

 somewhat of the texture of a cheese-cloth, be thrown over 

 the glasses, from about nine o'clock in the morning until the 

 sun leaves them ; and it is worth the trouble of having this 

 cover supported by some contrivance about a foot above the 

 glasses ; they will thereby be rendered less liable to scorch 

 than when laid close upon them, and the soil will retain the 

 moisture much longer. It is seldom found necessary to re- 

 move the glasses for the first ten days or a fortnight : they 

 should not be disturbed from their air-tight position unless 

 the dryness of the soil demand it ; but if the weather prove 



