SiG Cultivation of the Carnation and Picotce. 



siderable time; and, to support the blossoms when carded, 

 a piece of thin copper wire, about 3 or 4 in. long, with a crook 

 at the end [fig. 91.), must be fixed in the stick, by ^-^ 

 means of a small brad-awl, and the stem of the flower ^) 

 passed into the crook, which will prevent its being aA 

 shaken by the wind. To protect the blossoms from rain or sun, 

 they must be defended by umbrella-shaped caps of pasteboard, 

 with a tin tube in the centre of each to slip upon the stick. 

 The caps should be about 12 in. in diameter, and well painted ; 

 a small brad put into the stick will prevent them from falling 

 lower than required. When the greater part of the flowers 

 are in bloom, they should be placed on a stage, the cloth 

 awning of which must be made to roll up and down by means 

 of pulleys or small blocks. The form of the stage is not ma- 

 terial, it may be like those generally used for tulips, or of the 

 more portable sort formerly in use, consisting of several up- 

 rights [Jig. 92.) placed on two earthenware stan- 

 dards, each about 1 5 in. high, the bottom being 

 placed in leaden or cast-iron pans, 3 in. deep, 

 and filled with water, to prevent the approach of 

 earwigs or other insects; these, being crossed 



by substantial bearers, will form a stage of any length re- 

 quired, by placing one upright at the distance of every 10 

 or 12 ft. This kind of stage, when done with for the sea- 

 son, may be stowed away in any dry place, and will occupy 

 very little room. Watering the plants must at all times be 

 attended to, but particularly when the pods are swelling, being 

 careful at all times to wet the leaves as little as possible ; and, 

 should the grass at this time appear short or look yellowish, 

 Mr. Hogg, in order to restore them to their proper colour, 

 and to promote their growth, recommends watering once or 

 twice a week, with an infusion of horse or sheep dung (say 

 about a peck of dung to thirty-six gallons of soft water), and 

 this I find fully answers the intended purpose. But to pro- 

 duce a full and fine bloom, it is not proper to allow every bud 

 to blossom, the small and lateral pods must therefore be ex- 

 tracted as soon as they can be perceived, and in general the 

 plants should not be permitted to carry more than three or 

 four blooms. When the grass is of sufficient length, which 

 will be about the middle of July, it will be proper to commence 

 laying them, which is best performed in the following man- 

 ner : — The pot should be placed on a table, and the operator 

 must sit down when he makes the incision; he must have a 

 sharp penknife, and a steady hand ; the layer may be sup- 

 posed to have four or five joints, the leaves of which are all to 

 be cut off close till within two or three joints of the end, and 



