igS CARNATIONS. 
degree of moifture at their bafe, endan¬ 
gering a raouldinefs, and decay in that 
part, which will dellroy the feed. 
There is another mode of treatment 
adopted fuccefsfully in ripening the 
feed, which is, when the bloom is over, 
and the petals begin to decay, they are 
to be extrafted as above, taking par¬ 
ticular care to leave the two ftyles, which 
appear like horns proceeding from the 
fummit of the germen, or future peri- 
carpium; the calyx is then to be fhort- 
ened to about one half of its original 
length, and an aperture made on one fide 
of the remainder, down to the bafe of 
the pericarpium, fo that no water can 
polfibly lodge there; but in doing this, 
great care is neceffary not to wound or 
injure the pericarpium, or feed veffel 
itfelf, becaufe it might prove deftru£tive 
to the feed. 
After 
