34 
POTTING CARNATIONS. 
should err in such an opinion is by no means extraordinary ; but 
that those of more experience, who must have observed the mis¬ 
take, should allow him to continue in error, is unpardonable. 
To suppose the numberless stands of winning flowers which are 
to be seen at floral exhibitions in a single season are produced 
from plants, growing all in one kind of soil, is an absurdity. 
Every grower has his own peculiar mixture, and to which some of 
them, indeed, pin their entire faith; but if there are so many 
variations in the soil known to produce fine carnations, how much 
greater is the absurdity of attaching such an undue consequence 
to the minutiae of mixing this compost, as we find to be still con¬ 
tinued by somq who would be leaders in the art. And again, I 
have known six weeks to intervene been the commencement and 
finish of potting a large collection, yet no difference was observ¬ 
able in the flowers, when the season came for their development. 
Let me, then, advise the tyro to attain a general idea of their 
practical management, and trust to the indications of Nature, 
aided by his own observations and good sense, for the detail. 
From the middle of February, and onwards for a month or six 
weeks, may be regarded as the most fitting time for potting these 
plants. Here is time enough for a very great alteration to occur 
in their condition, yet it will be found that some which may have 
been layed early, been growing in a favorable position, or have 
been much nursed through the winter, will be quite ready at the 
earliest period mentioned, while others that were rooted later, or 
have been roughed in their subsequent treatment, will not require 
it for several weeks. The state of the plants must or ought to 
determine when it is most proper to be done : let them begin to 
grow, and then pot them as quickly as possible. 
With regard to the soil, the staple ingredient should be loam : 
this is allowed on all sides, because it possesses more nutriment 
than any other natural earth, and because its texture is usually 
of the peculiar medium description which is at once moist with¬ 
out retaining a superabundance of water ; but in this respect, as 
a very little experience will make apparent, it varies, sometimes 
inclining to a sandy nature, at others, partaking of a clayey 
character; it is not then pure, and as one or other of these ad¬ 
mixtures may prevail, so will the strength differ, and hence has 
arisen the practice of mixing other earths, originally intended 
