304 SHRUBBERIES AND FLOT\-ER-GARDEXS. [CHAP. 



nation. Its origin is common in England and all over Em^ope. 

 There are many pretty varieties^ and these are on the increase 

 every year in England^ the manufacturing people in the north 

 bestowing vast pains in propagating and cultivating them. The 

 plant is smaller in every particular than the carnation^ but is its 

 miniature. There are varieties double and single^ red^ white, and 

 laced. It grows in tufts and sends up many stalks, each bearing 

 a flower; but these tufts should not be suffered to remain unparted 

 more than one year. Propagate by layeis, pipings or seed, just 

 as with the carnation, only that, the pink being much the hardier 

 of the two, you need not bestow the same pains upon it that you 

 must on the carnation. Pipings will strike in the open ground, 

 ^\dthout any hand-glass over them, but you are surer to succeed 

 by using the glass, and in the manner directed for propagating 

 carnations in the open ground. No plant of this kind should be 

 suffered to blow more than twelve flowers. All above that num- 

 ber should be cut off as they appear in the bud. Any soil almost 

 suits it. — See Sweet-William. — Lat. D. Barhatus. 



549. POLYANTHUS.— Lat. Primula elatior. An indigenous 

 plant which has been brought to great perfection by the florists. 

 It blows in March and April, flowers of various colom's, red, brown, 

 yellow, purple, and variegated; the flower stem should rise above 

 the fohage, should be perfectly erect, and send out from five to 

 seven small foot-stalks each to be terminated by a flower. Pro- 

 pagate by seed, or by parting the roots, which latter should be 

 done every year, or the plants are sure to dwindle away and ulti- 

 mately die. The Polyanthus likes a shady situation, moist ground, 

 and manuring of neats^ dung; but the soil mentioned under the 

 head '^Auricula'' suits it well. It is well to have some always in 

 pots the same as those for the Auricula, and by these means you 

 procure an early show in the green-house, and can the more 

 readily and surely save the seeds of such plants as you most ad- 

 mire. In the seed-bed, you have only to follow the instructions 

 given for the management of the Auricula bed. 



550. POPPY, red, or corn rose. — Lat. Papaver rhceas. A hardy 

 annual plant about two feet high, and its flower red. Blows in J une 

 and July, and is propagated by sowing the seed in a Hght and rich 



earth ; afterwards they sow themselves. Poppy, garden. Lat. 



P. somniferum. This sort grows larger than the last, has several 

 varieties, double and single, of most colours excepting blue. It is 



