1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



197 



ble after flowering. Then, during the summer, 

 keep the (■amcllia cool and shaded ; setting the 

 pot away from the dripping of trees or bushes, 

 upon a pavement of cinders, and watering it 

 regularly. In September bring it to the sun- 

 shine ; and be sure to take it in-doors before 

 the evenings get chilly. As soon as the buds 

 are formed set the plant away from the sun, 

 yet in a light, airy place, and the flowers will 

 open well and remain long. Keep the leaves 

 free from dust, but do not sprinkle the plant 

 while in bloom, apply the water directly to the 

 soil. If you wiiih £br lai-ge flowers allow only 

 one bud to remain on each terminal shoot. 

 After blooming, prune immediately, but not 

 too close. 



Carnation. This flower belongs to the 

 Pink family, called by botanists, Dianthus, the 

 flower of God ; because of the esteem in which 

 their beautiful and fragrant flowers wew, held. 

 Carnations were formerly called "coronations," 

 and "clove July-flowers :" pinks were called 

 "soppes in wine," because their petals were 

 used to flavor goblets of wine, as rosemary 

 tankards of ale. Carnations were first intro- 

 duced into England from Germany. Many 

 are bix)ught from Italy, and those flowery 

 lands, the islands of the Mediterranean ; but 

 they seem to have been unknown to the an- 

 cients. There a^e three kinds of carnation. 

 Flakes — striped with broad bands of two col- 

 ors ; Bizarres — striped, or streaked, Avith three 

 colors ; and Picotees — white, spotted or bor- 

 dered with some dark color. These last are 

 the hardiest, though seldom so large a flower 

 as the others. They are sometimes raised 

 from seed, obtained in Vienna and some of 

 the Swiss towns, which if coiked in phials will 

 keep in good order for growth many years. 

 But the better way Is from layers. 



Early in spring set a mature plant in the 

 hot sun until It droops : because when the 

 branches are v/ilted they wIU not break easily, 

 and the shoois to be operated upon ought not 

 to lose their connection with the parent stalk. 

 Select three or four of the strongest lower 

 shoots. Cut each shoot about half through, in 

 a slanting direction, at a joint. Make a fur- 

 row in the soil just beneath it, rather more 

 than an Inch deep, and lay the cut stem within 

 it ; fastening It down with a bit of bent wire, 

 or an. old hair-pin. Then cover the wounded 

 pai't with the soil, but let the end of the stem 

 vcmain an inch or two out of the earth. After 



they are rooted set them together In a five, or 

 six-inch pot. Fill the pot one-third with 

 broken charcoal and cinders. Lay upon this a 

 rai.xture of rotten leaves, fibrous peat and sea- 

 sand — or common sand — with a little salt. 

 Press this soil very firmly about the roots. 

 Keep the pot In the shade, water it regularly. 

 Be svu'C that no worms can get at the roots. 

 By Octolx^r the shoots will need tying to a rod, 

 or a stout wire. Take them into the house, 

 and give them the full benefit of the sun ; and 

 as soon as the buds appear, water them at 

 evening, as well as in the morning. As the 

 calyx is apt to burst, when the buds are fully 

 swollen, open Its sepals a little, with a pin, or 

 a sharp penknife ; and make a ring from a 

 round piece of pasteboard, or of fine elastic 

 cord, and slip It on the bud, placing It so that 

 it may be a support for the calyx, and may 

 keep the petals In regular fovm afier the ex- 

 pansion of the flower. Cut oflT each blossom 

 close to the next joint as soon as it withers ; 

 and when all the buds have opened, if the 

 plant looks slender and weak, cut ^!very branch 

 back, evenly, three or four Inches. Some per- 

 sons make little umbrella-shaped caps of pa- 

 per, and attach them to the rod which supports 

 the flower so as to shade It during the greatest 

 heat of the sun. 



Chrysanthemum. This name, signifnng 

 golden flower, comes from the Greek ; and the 

 plant Is so called because many kinds bear yel- 

 low flowers. One variety was carried from the 

 Island of Sicily to England as early as 1629 ; 

 but the most beautiful are of morcmodern ori- 

 gin, and have been brought principally from 

 China. The gardens of the Inner and Middle 

 Temple, London, were once a source of great 

 attraction on account of this flower, which, for 

 over thirty years, was very successfully culti- 

 vated there. Chrysanthemums can be made 

 into wi-eaths, or worn singly In the hair, with- 

 out losing their brightness, or drooping at all, 

 during a long evening ; and they are among 

 the best of ilowers for vases. There seems to 

 be some peculiar property in their juices which 

 not only prevents their own decay, when kept 

 In water, but helps to hinder the decay of oth- 

 er flowers that are mingled with them. The 

 flowers of dlflferent varieties of Chrysanthe- 

 mum vary as much in form, as in color ; but 

 anv of them are beautiful enough, if proper 

 care is taken to have the plant grow in good 

 shape, for a parlor ornament from October to 



