New varieties are procured by raising plants from seed : for this purpose the seed of the best sorts only is saved ; it is produced sparingly in such flowers as are not per fectly double ; it is procured more plentifully from semi double flowers, and if these be of good colours, the off spring is frequently very promising. It is sown in the spring, and the plants are nursed up in beds, and after wards planted out. From a considerable bed, only a kw can be expected worthy of being preserved ; and these are likely to be found among the weakest plants.
506. Those flowers, the petals of widen are elegantly laced with colours, while the edges are scarcely notched, or are as nearly as possible rose-leaved, are considered the finest. Being very double, and at the same time opening fairly or without bursting, are qualities highly prized. A clear white for the body of the flower is always desirable. In the lacing, a rich black, shaded toward the centre with red, is much esteemed. Scarlet lacings are most rare, and much in request. A purple lace is greatly admired, as in the variety known by the name or Davy's Duchess of Devonshire, which may be considered as the model of a perfect pink. Pinks are carefully tended by-the zealous florist. When the flower-stalks rise, they are tied to a small stick to keep them up ; and when the petals begin to appear in the pod, those pods which seem apt to burst on one side are restrained by a small piece of slit card paper. The finest flowers, when expanded, are covered with pieces of tinned iron in shape of inverted funnels or little umbrellas, equally to save them from .rain and from the sun's rays.
Carnations.
507. Formerly these were divided into Carnations, often called Bursters, having very large leaves and flowers, and into Gillyflowers (girofliers, F.), the leaves and flowers of which are smaller. The former are now called Tree carnations ; the latter, Common carnations. The florists of the present day distinguish carnations into four classes. 1. Flakes, having one colour only, on a white ground, the stripes large, and the colour extending through the sub stance of the petal: when the stripe is pink, and of high colour, the flower is called a Rose flake. 2. Bizarres, flowers with two colours, on a white ground : they are call ed scarlet, purple, or pink bizarres, as these colours hap pen to abound ; when deep purple and rich pink occur together, the flower is accounted a crimson bizarre. 3. Piyuettees, with a white, and sometimes a yellow ground, spotted with scarlet, purple, or other colours, the edges of the petals generally notched or serrated. 4. Painted ladies, with the petals red or purple on the upper side, but white below. This last class is often associated with the pinks.
508. According to florists, the following are the chief properties of a good carnation. The stem should he strong
and straight, nearly three feet high ; the flower should expand freely and equally, and should not he less than three inches in diameter ; the outer circle of petals, or the guard leaves, should be strung, so as to support the interior petals ; these should be numerous, but not crowded ; they should regularly decrease in size as they approach the centre ; the petals should be rose•shaped, or the edges should be entire, without notch or fringe; the colours should be bright and distinct, the stripes narrowing gra dually to the base of the petal ; and almost one half of each petal should be of a clear white.
In the culture of carnations, the preparing of a proper compost or soil is of some importance. For producing strong flowers, Maddock recommends a compost consist ing of one half well rotted stable (Ring, one third fresh sound loamy earth, and one sixth sea or river sand ; the ingredients to be thoroughly mixed by repeated turnings at intervals of several weeks. If, however, it is wished to preserve entire and brilliant the colours of the flowers, a compost containing much less dung and more loam is greatly to be preferred.
The finest carnations are planted in pots a foot wide at top, and are placed on the shelves of a stage at the time of flowering they are hence often called Stage-flowers. The potting is performed toward the end of March. The plants are then placed in an open airy part of the garden, under an arch of hoops, so that they may be protected by a covering of mats in case of need. Watering is carefully attended to ; the water is not sprinkled over the whole plant, but is applied only to the root. The stems arc tied to stakes as they advance. In this situation the plants con tinue till their stems become too tall for remaining under the hoops. They are then placed on the stage for flower ing. Here slender stakes, four feet in length, and some times painted, are employed, and the stems are neatly tied to them at the distance of every six inches. As the flower-buds advance, they who are nice watch any ap pearance of irregular bursting, and prevent it by slight ligatures, as already mentioned in the case of fine pinks. Only three or four principal flower-buds are allowed to come lbrward; the smaller lateral ones being cut off as they appear. When the earliest flowers begin to expand, tinned iron or common paper covers, such as those above described, § 506, are placed over them. When the flower ing becomes general, a canvas awning is resorted to. A tulip-bed frame answers perfectly well for covering carna tions; and tulip bulbs are raised and stored, before carna tions come into flower : every one therefore, who delights in tulips, should also cultivate carnations, that his canvas frame may thus be occupied with vegetable beauties twice in the year.