176 CULTIVATION. 



But, in November, he adds about half a barrow- 

 ful of newly slacked lime, and early in the 

 spring, two or three pounds of common salt. 

 Both these substances are particularly useful to 

 kill or drive worms and slugs from the compost; 

 which is of most material consequence in the cul- 

 ture of a plant that is at all seasons the prey of 

 snails and slugs. Whether these substances also 

 add to the qualities of the soil necessary for the 

 carnation, is not so certain; further than as they 

 both are, in all other cases, absorbents, tending to 

 keep the soil more moist, both in summer and 

 v^inter, than it would otherwise be. To assist the 

 vigorous expansion of the leaves and flowers of 

 this plant, it has been recommended to water 

 them occasionally with a weak solution of nitre. 



For top-dressing in June, finely sifted rotten 

 dung is most proper, as well in yielding nutriment 

 conveyed down by each watering, as acting as a 

 mulch in repelling drought. 



For pipings and layers, the best mixture is : 

 one barrowful of loam; one ditto of leaf-mould; 

 one of rotten hot-bed dung; and one of fine sand. 



