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DIANTHUS. 



ceipts for preparing it. A soil composed of equal 

 parts of sandy loam, leaf-mold and thoroughly rot- 

 ted stable manure, to which may be added a little 

 old lime rubbish, will suit them. 



They should be watered rather sparingly, as a 

 wet soil destroys them, and hence the importance 

 of good drainage. 



Though they will endure a low temperature, even 

 a slight frost, they should have, when forcing for 

 winter bloom, a temperature of 50 at night and 

 70 to 75 by day. 



They are propagated by seeds for producing new 

 varieties, and. by cuttings, layers and pipings for in- 

 creasing. 



Seeds should be sown in April or May in sandy 

 soil under glass, and transplanted when two inches 

 high into small pots and thence to the open ground. 

 They flower the second year. A seed rarely comes 

 true to its variety. A celebrated Carnation grower 

 states that the chance of obtaining a handsome 

 Carnation from seed is as one to a hundred. 



To raise cuttings, sever a half-ripened shoot just 

 below a joint with a sharp knife, remove the lower 

 leaves close to the stem, and if between September 

 and May set out in a pot of wet sand, or compost, 

 under glass. If of compost cover the top with an 

 inch of sand The pots should have drainage. In 

 the summer season cuttings may be put out in the 

 flower border under glass and frequently watered. 

 An inverted fruit jar will answer for glass. When 



