THE CARNATION, DIANTHUS CARYOPHYLLUS. 51 
and the loam not to be so clayey as to adhere to the fingers, but 
to feel soft and oily, and have a pleasant smell. To make a proper 
compost, upon a pretty large scale, the component parts are :— 
one load of this loam, half the quantity of good black mould, two 
loads of thoroughly-rotted horse-dung from an old cucumber or 
melon bed, taking care that there is no mushroom spawn in it, 
and two large barrow loads of rather coarse sand, which has been 
thoroughly washed with water. If the loam is of a stiff nature, 
the quantity of sand must be increased. This is the rough com¬ 
post ; and it must be kept for a year, and frequently turned, 
especially during the frost, so that it shall be thoroughly mixed ; 
but it must not be too much blanched by the rain. A little lime, 
mixed hot with the heap while turning it, is of service in destroy¬ 
ing the larva of insects, which are very destructive to all the more 
delicate flowers. 
The. method of propagation is by seed, by pipings, or by layers; 
the first to obtain new varieties, and the others to preserve and 
multiply establishments. The time for taking the pipings or 
layers is when the plant has come into bloom, and before it is too 
far advanced ; otherwise they will have become hard, and not 
strike quite so easily. 
Carnations require pure air and free exposure to it, except at 
times when this would affect the colours of the blooms ; and then 
the blooms must be protected by shades of glass or paper, but the 
grass left as freely exposed to the air as possible. If the propa¬ 
gation is by seed, it should be sown in April, and the seed covered 
with fine compost. When planted out in beds, where they are to 
remain to flower, they should be put ten inches apart, the bed 
being of the proper compost, and well prepared. Before the 
flower stem makes its appearance, the pots,—if the plants are in 
these,—-should get a top dressing of rich compost, and water must 
be given during the growth of the stem and the swelling of the 
flower pod. 
As the plants advance, care must be taken that the pods have 
no tendency to burst on one side. This may be prevented by 
gently tying with moist bast; or if it is obstinate, the opposite 
side of the pod may be slit with a sharp knife. At this time the 
side shoots should be taken off, and the blooms in the truss re¬ 
duced to the number which the stem can properly bear. After 
farther advance, circular bits of card should be put round imme- 
