182 
THE LADIES’ MAGAZINE OF GARDENING. 
Caryophyllus); Cerastium vulgatum; the wild snapdragon ; the dyer’s 
weld, or wild mignonette, and the rosemary, may also be grown on the tops 
of walls; and those beautiful little plants, Erinus Alpinus, and Antirrhinum 
Cymbalaria , sometimes called the wandering sailor, may be inserted in 
the crevices between the bricks. 
CARNATIONS. 
What is the best method of growing carnations ? 
May 5th , 1841. 
In answer to this, I think I cannot do better than quote the opinion of 
one of.the first carnation-growers in Scotland, as given in the “Cale¬ 
donian Memoirs.” 
“ The carnation ( Dianthus Caryophyllus Jlore pleno) consists of several 
varieties, which florists distinguish by the names of Flakes, Bizarres, and 
Picotees. All of these will grow in any soil or situation, and are easily 
propagated by layers and cuttings; but it is observed when they are 
kept long on the same ground, they frequently run, from a fine striped and 
variegated, to a self, or plain red colour: therefore, to keep up a good stock 
of these flowers, recourse must be had to sowing seed ; but as the carna¬ 
tion flowers late in the season, it is very seldom ripe seeds can be obtained 
in the open air in this country. 
“ My practice therefore is, when the plants are in flower, to select 
what I consider the best; that is, such as have fine long regular pods, 
not inclining much to burst, with rose-leaved petals, and good colours, 
rather light than otherwise, or having more white than red. The layers 
of these I take off at the usual time, put in small pots, and shelter them 
in a hotbed-frame during the winter. In the month of March, I put 
them in pots about one foot in diameter; having previously prepared a 
compost, which consists of a pretty light-coloured loam, with a third 
vegetable mould of rotten tree-leaves, and a small quantity of river-sand. 
They are again placed in some sheltered situation, till the month of June, 
when they are placed on the stage in the greenhouse. As soon as the 
flowers expand, if they are much crowded with leaves, I pull out a few 
to give room to the seed-pod to swell; and whenever the flower begins 
to fade, I pull out the whole of the petals, without hurting the styles or 
horns that proceed from the point of the seed-pod. I often find it of 
great advantage to slit down one side of the calyx, to drain out any 
moisture that may lodge in the bottom of the cup, which would soon 
damp and rot the pod ; it is likewise very useful to cut away about one- 
third of the calyx, to encourage the swelling pods. The seeds are known 
