ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE CARNATION. 381 
mixture of sand and leaf soil. I send inclosed a painting of the unique 
carnation which I promised some time since. I beg leave to say, I 
believe every petal is correctly copied, good and bad. This beautiful 
flower was grown in the open ground ; and, giving the Londoners every 
credit they deserve, I think they cannot produce a finer specimen. I 
believe, were your correspondent to grow this plant in loam and dung 
only, he could not produce a bloom worth having. The principal 
objections brought by tf A ” against growing carnations in the open 
ground are, the wire-worm and inconvenience of shading, &c. With 
regard to the first, I shall be glad, in a future number, to give some 
directions for preventing the depredations of this intruder, which I 
think are not generally known; and as to the second, they are as easily 
protected in the open bed from the winds, as when in pots. I made no 
objection to planting them in pots, on the score of watering them; my 
reference was to a different, thing, as all must be aware it is as easy 
to give water in pots as in beds. Has your correspondent seen the 
carnations grown in Nottinghamshire and Lancashire, by many of the 
mechanics, in the open ground ? If not, I must say he appears, to use 
a common phrase, very ft hard of belief.” He also%eems very positive 
with respect to layering in May. I have this year about two hundred 
layers in May, not one of which is what he terms te long-legged; ” 
though, I believe, if grown in strong loam and dung only, many of the 
stronger-growing sorts would be so. 
I beg, in conclusion, to say, the carnation is naturally a very hardy 
plant; but, from the treatment many have given it, it is not near so 
much so as it was. I cannot see any reasonable ground your corre¬ 
spondent has against placing them under a shed in winter ; they might 
there have plenty of air, and be protected from a superabundance of 
moisture, snow, and hail. Four strong stakes driven into the ground, 
and covered with thatch or matting, would make an excellent shed, at 
little or no expense; though one constructed against a wall, in a 
similar way, is what I should prefer. 
G. T. Dale. 
Wirksivorth, September 2nd, 183-5. 
