196 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
that they do not give way in their substance to the expanding 
of the flower ; and therefore this expansion bursts them in some 
way or other. If they are stunted in length, the flower can 
hardly be made a shapely one, or the pod perfect; but if long 
enough, slitting the sepals longitudinally with a fine penknife, and 
making more than one such slit if it seems necessary, will make 
the sepals give way pretty equally in all directions ; and if this 
operation be a little too long delayed, wrapping the pod with a 
strip of bast will be of some service ; but this will not supersede the 
necessity of slitting, and it must be slackened as the pod expands ; 
and this is the more necessary, as the bursting of the pod tends to 
spoil the flowers as well as the seeds. ^\'hen the bloom begins 
to expand it is necessary to have a cap to protect the colours 
from strong heat and light, and also from heavy rains, all of 
which are equally injurious. For this purpose little caps of 
paper or glass should be attached to the sticks, in such a manner 
as that they can cover or expose the flowers as may be necessary. 
Toward evening is the best time for exposure to the air; but 
they should never be exposed to the rays of the mid-day sun, nor 
should a single drop of water be allowed to fall on them. After 
the outer row or guard petals are about their full expansion and 
begin to droop, they should be supported by collars of card, 
rather broader than the base of the flower. These collars are 
formed by taking a circular piece of card of the requisite size, 
cutting a circular hole in the centre of it just large enough to fit 
the pod without compressing it, and making a straight cut from 
this hole to the margin. By bending, the card is easily slipped 
on the pod, and when set straight it is raised close to the petals. 
This being done, it is desirable to bend a small bit of brass wire 
round the pod just under the collar, and attach the other end of 
it to the sticks. This keeps the flower upright and steady, and 
prevents it from being injured by the wind ; and besides this, the 
petals, if gently handled, may be more nicely trimmed than those 
of a cut flower. This, in a general way, is the method of obtain¬ 
ing handsomely-shaped blooms, and having the best chance of 
fertile seeds. 
The next points to be considered are the modes of propagation, 
by seeds, by pipings, or cuttings, and by layers. In order to 
forward the seeds, the petals of the decaying corolla should be 
removed ; and even the tops of the sepals of the calyx ; but great 
