THE FLOWEE-GAEDEN. 15 



most beautiful objects when trained over lattice-work, or baskets in the 

 flower-garden ; and no garden, however small, ought to be without one 

 or more of these species. 



Carnation. — Here are beauty and fragrance, and both in the highest 

 degree. There are various sorts, distinguished, like those of the auric- 

 ula, by names ; and what is said of the seed of the auricula applies 

 here. If sown, the carnation does not blow till the second year. It 

 is usually propagated by layers. While it is blowing, it sends out 

 several side-shoots near the ground. These are pinned down in August 

 to the earth with a little stick with a hook at the end of it. A little 

 cut, or tongue, is made on the under side of the shoot ; and thus the 

 head of the shoot is brought upright. The part that touches the 

 ground is well covered with earth ; and roots come out here before the 

 fall. Then the stalk, which connects the young plant with the old one, 

 is cut off; the young plant is transplanted, and the next year it blows. 

 The old root does not stand another year well; and therefore its branches 

 are thus made use of to keep ivp the race and the sort. Carnations are 

 rather tender as to frost. They must be well covered in this country to 

 live through the winter. It is best to put them in large pots to give 

 room for laying, and to keep them in a green-house in winter, or in 

 some house where they can have sun and air. However, they merit all 

 the pains that can be bestowed upon them. 



Clove is only a more handy and less esteemed sort of carnation, which 

 see. It may be propagated like the carnation, or by cuttings, which is 

 the easier way. Instead of laying down the side shoots, you cut them 

 off. Then you cut away the hard part of the shoot, strip off three or 

 four of the bottom leaves. Tip the rest of the leaves ; make a little 

 split in the butt of the shoot, and then, with a little smooth pointed 

 stick, plant the cutting in the ground. This is to be done early in 

 August. The young cloves will have roots in the fall ; and you may 

 transplant them into the open ground or into pots to blow the next 

 year. The old clove-plant will, however, blow for many years. I should 

 think that, with good covering, such as directed for spinach, cloves 

 would live out the winter in this country. 



Columbine. — A perennial. Very common, but very pretty. 



Cowslip. — This is one of the four flowers without which English pas- 

 toral poetry would be destitute of that which awakens the most delight- 

 ful ideas. The cowslip, the primrose, the violet, and the daisy, are of 

 endless recurrence in that species of wjiting. They all come early in 

 the spring ; and are all beautiful. Neither of them is seen here, and 

 they all might ; for they will bear any severity of weather. The cow- 

 slip is of the Polyanthus tribe. It' is of a delicate yellow color, abd 

 sends forth many blossoms from the same stem, which rises about six 

 inches from the ground. It may easily be propagated from seed, which 

 it bears in great abundance; but, when you once have a plant, the 

 easiest way is to propagate from offsets. The plants raised from seed 

 do not blow till the second year. 



Calalpa. — Has flue leaves and splendid flowers. It will grow in any 

 common soil that is tolerably dry ; but if it has too much moisture, the 

 shoots, which are naturally soft, with a large pith, will never be thorough- 



