CARNATIONS. 
29 
Any time in August, or even September, I take a box four 
inches deep, and of such size and shape that a handglass will fit 
it tightly. Into the box I set as many pots (size 60) as it will 
hold, then I sift light soil into the box until the pots are well 
filled, and the interstices between them also, and with a fine 
rose watering-pot water the soil until it becomes almost a puddle. 
Then, without using any dibble, I press the prepared cuttings y 
one into the centre of each pot, then place the box on the sur¬ 
face of the dung of a nearly spent cucumber bed (out of which 
the earth has been removed), over the box I place a hand-light, 
and over the whole the frame-bed sash, and the work is done ; 
for it is seldom that air or water will be required until the plants 
are ready to be removed into their winter quarters. 
This, the routine of one box, may be extended to many, and 
I believe whoever will try the plan will, like me, find that the 
operation will not occasion a tithe of the trouble, nor occupy 
a tithe of the time that the usual process of layering does, while 
it will ensure much greater success. 
As to keeping Carnations over winter, I think the mode that 
keeps them freest from excessive moisture and from worms will 
be found the best, be it what mode it may.—I am, Sir, yours, 
John M’Donald. 
Riccarton; Jan. 7 , 1843 . 
CARNATIONS. 
Sir, —I am glad that I have stirred up what may be called 
a little emulative sort of argument in your correspondent, 
Philo-Caryophyllus, for precisely the same reason, too, that 
appears to actuate himself; though he seems to have misunder¬ 
stood me in a part of what 1 intended to communicate in 
December. With your permission, I will endeavour to put him 
right, and defend my favorite system of propagating Carnations, 
also try to remove from his mind the “ fatal objection” pointed 
out in his January letter, by being, if possible, rather more ex¬ 
plicit. As a private grower, I do not make trouble a matter of 
consideration; and though his objections are opposed to the 
