The Cultivation of Flowers 
193 
or they may be left where they are during the winter 
and planted out in early spring. In some localities, with 
the finer varieties, it may be found necessary to lift and 
place the young plants in frames during the winter. 
Carnations are also propagated by pipings. The shoots 
are sometimes too short for layering, or there are too 
many of them. They may be taken off with a heel 
or the foliage may be stripped off part of the shoot, 
which should then be cut through just below a joint. 
These can then be placed in sandy soil on a hotbed, 
firming the soil well round the pipings. The hotbed 
should be formed and 5 or 6 in. of sandy soil placed on 
the top of it, the whole being covered over with a layer 
of silver sand and the pipings inserted in this. They 
should then have a good watering and be kept close and 
shaded for a time. The soil should be kept moist, but 
damp should be guarded against until they are rooted. 
A good loamy soil is the most suitable for the culti- 
vation of Carnations. On light soils they are apt to be 
burned up in hot weather, while they do not like a stiff 
clay. If the soil is light, some clay or stiff loam and cow 
manure should be added, while if it is heavy, some sharp 
sand or road grit and leaf soil may be added. 
As soon as the flower stalks get any size they should 
be staked. The most convenient kind is the spiral wire 
stake with a loop at the apex. These should be from 
2 to ft. high, and as the flower stalk grows it can 
be twisted round the spiral stake until it reaches the top, 
when it should be put into the loop. No tying is required, 
thus saving considerable time. If other stakes are used, 
the best are the thin points of bamboo canes. The plants 
<C52o) 14 
