It only remains to give some directions for the propagation of Carnations.

Two modes are usually adopted, namely, by layering, and by cuttings, or (as they are always called in this family of plants) " pipings".

Of course Carnations can be and are propagated by seeds; but then the particular variety is not preserved, as they vary in their bloom, and so much so that from the same pod of seed, flowers will come of all the various varieties pointed out in the commencement of this paper. It is by this means that new varieties are obtained, but as flowers possessing qualities that are esteemed by florists are perhaps not one in a hundred seedlings raised, it is only those who grow them for sale or the most enthusiastic among amateurs who take the trouble to increase their collection of good flowers in that way. To save seed, the petals, as the blooms die off, should be gently withdrawn, and then the receptacle containing the seed will be perceived at their base. This must remain on the stem until it becomes hard and brown; then it may be gathered and kept until spring, when the seed may be sown in a pan of fine earth in a green-house, or under a handglass or a garden frame.

Cuttings or pipings may be taken off and rooted at any time of the year, except the winter, in the following simple way. Prepare the piping for planting by cutting it through immediately beneath the pair of leaves at the second or third joint from its top. Then cut off about half of the length of every leaf on the piping except the two bottom leaves, which are to be removed altogether. Then, having a pot containing some very light fine soil, with half its bulk of sand mixed with it, make the surface smooth and even, and insert the pipings in the centre an inch apart, and from half an inch to an inch deep, according to the size and length of the piping. Water the pot of pipings through with the fine rose of a watering-pot, and let them dry; then place a hand-glass (or a tumbler water glass will do) over the pipings. This glass must be taken off, the inside wiped dry, and immediately replaced, every day. If that be done, and a little water be given once in a week or ten days, pipings will readily root either in the window of a room, or in a green-house or garden frame, any time between May and October, without bottom heat.

But those who have a hot-bed usually place the pots in that, which hastens the process.

The propagation by layers requires rather more dexterity in the operation itself, but is less troublesome, as it requires little or no attention after it is performed, except occasional supplies of water. The method of layering is to remove the leaves from the second or third joint from the end of the shoot, and then with a sharp pen-knife cut a slit close under and half through the joint, but without separating the shoot from the main stem. Then place some light sandy soil on the surface of the pot, and having a small wooden hook, stick, or twig, three or four inches long, press the cut joint down into the sandy soil, and placing the small hook over it, fix it down in that position. By this means the cut joint is placed half an inch or so beneath the surface, and thus circumstanced, if the soil is kept moist by moderate sprinklings every day or two through the rose of a water-pot, roots will in six or seven weeks be produced from the cut joint; when the new plant thus formed may be removed by first dividing the stem between that and the main stem of the plant, and then passing a broad knife with care beneath the newly formed roots, and raising the new plants.

While rooting the plants should remain in the open air, shaded from the sun.

Both pipings and layers, when rooted, are then to be potted in any good garden soil in pots about four inches in diameter. Three or four plants can be placed in each pot, so to remain through the winter, as stated in the beginning of this paper. Each small pot will then in the spring give enough plants to be placed in each large pot for bloom.

When it is wished to raise Carnations for exhibition, and consequently in the greatest state of perfection, as a general rule, only one flower must be allowed to remain on each plant. There are a few varieties that possess an extraordinary quantity of petals, which form an exception to this rule, as those kinds will burst their pods unless two or three are allowed to expand. But with most varieties, when intended for exhibition, all the buds but the first should be removed. Some beginners can not " find it in their hearts'9 to pull off so many "nice buds." Let them see a pot with four plants, and each one with a flower four inches in diameter upon it, in full perfection, and I never yet saw the man who wanted more in that pot, or was dissatisfied with the result of his care and labor.

There are modes adopted by florists for the better preserving and displaying the bloom that I have not adverted to, such as cards and wires. The cards are circular, three inches in diameter, with a hole half an inch in diameter in the centre, from which a slit is cut to the circumference to admit of passing it over the stem of the bloom. This being done, the card is drawn up upon the pod when the bloom is just expanding behind the outer row of petals. This keeps the petals from reflexing or falling back unevenly, and if the card be a light sandy or fawn color, it enhances the whiteness of the ground color of the bloom. But when cards are thus used, it is requisite to have some short brass or copper wires about five or six inches long, to secure the blooms from drooping by passing the hooked end of the wire round the bloom behind the card, and then pressing the other or pointed end of the wire into the stick, to which the stem of the plant is tied.

But these things have nothing to do with the culture of the plant in perfection, which it has been the object of the writer, an old and enthusiastic carnation grower, to point out.

[Having done this up so well, we hope an " Old Countryman " will take up some other of his old favorites, the florist's flowers, which are yearly becoming better known and better grown. - Ed].