THE CARNATION. 277 
a favorite flower, not only for the beauty but for the 
delightful fragrance of its blossoms. It is a native of 
Germany, and it is occasionally found in an apparently 
wild state in England. The cultivation of it, however, is 
by ‘ho means easy, but calls forth all the resources of the 
florist. The varieties, which are very numerous, have been 
arranged under three heads: Flakes, having two colors, 
with their stripes running quite through and along the 
petals; Bizarres, irregularly spotted, and striped with not 
fewer than three colors; Pucotees, spotted, with serrated or 
fringed petals. Mr. Hogg, who has written a treatise ex- 
pressly on this flower, has given a catalogue of nearly 350 
sorts. 
Carnations are propagated by layers or pipings: the 
former method is most practiced, but with some sorts 
piping, it is said, should be preferred. Layering is per- 
formed when the plant is in full bloom. Proper shoots 
are selected; a few of the lower leaves are then removed ; 
an incision is made a little below a suitable joint, passing 
up to the joint, but not through it; the shoot is then peg- 
ged down and covered with some fresh soil, the tip being 
left above ground. Layers are generally found to be-root- 
ed in about a month after the operation has been perform- 
ed. Pipings are little cuttings, separated at a joint, and 
planted thickly under bell-glasses on a slight hotbed. 
They require great attention, and are precarious in their 
success, but form excellent plants. 
Numerous directions have been given respecting com- 
posts for carnations. We abridge those of Hogg, who is 
the principal authority in this matter. Take three bar- 
rows of loam, one and a half of garden mould, two of horse- 
dung, and one of coarse sand; let these be mixed, and 
thrown into a heap, and turned over two or three times in 
