OPERATIONS FOR APRIL. 
75 
then stick in the pipings about three inches apart, and place a hand glass over 
them. They will not require watering at that time if the soil was well wetted 
previous to inserting them into the bed. 
49. When the pipings have begun to grow, and not till then, the glass may be 
removed for the first time : this will happen in about three weeks after they are 
planted. They may then be gradually exposed every fine day, until they are able 
to bear the open air. 
50. In hot weather it is necessary to shade the buds, both previous to opening, 
and after they have opened, as recommended for carnations. This is generally 
done by placing small boards over them, similar to those figured and described for 
auriculas, page 10. 
Seeds and layers may be treated after the same manner as carnations. 
Criterion of a fine Pink . — <f The stem should be strong and erect, and not 
less than twelve inches high. The calyx smaller and shorter than that of the 
carnation, but nearly similar in proportion, as well as in the formation of the 
flower, which should not be less than two inches and a half in diameter. The 
petals should be large, broad, and substantial, and have very fine fringed or serrated 
edges, free from deep notches or indentures ; in short, they approach nearest to 
perfection when the fringe or edge is so fine as scarcely to be discernible ; but if 
they could be obtained entire, it would be a desirable object. The broadest part 
of the lamina or broad end of the petals, should be perfectly white, and distinct 
from the eye, unless it be a laced pink ; that is, ornamented with a continuation 
of the colour of the eye round it, bold, clean and distinct, having a considerable 
proportion of white in the centre, perfectly free from tinge or spot. The eye 
should consist of a bright or dark rich crimson or purple, resembling velvet, but 
the nearer it approaches to black, the more it is esteemed : its proportion should 
be about equal to that of the white, that it may neither appear too large nor too 
small.” — Maddock . 
OPERATIONS FOR APRIL. 
As April is proverbial for showery weather, it may not be amiss to introduce a 
figure of a garden scraper, which was furnished us by Mr. Saul of Lancaster, and 
was inserted in our Horticultural Register, vol. ii. page 128. 
It has long been known on 
the Continent, and only requires 
to be brought into notice, to be 
more adopted in this country. 
It is made of hard wood, and 
answers exceedingly well. In 
the section 1, 2, 3, 4, are the 
