The PINK, Dianthus, Kurunful, is a well known species of great
variety, and acknowledged beauty.
The Carnation, D. caryophyilus, Gul kurunful, is by this time
naturalized in India, adding both beauty and fragrance to the parterre;
the only variety however that has yet appeared in the country is the
clove, or deep crimson colored: but the success attending the culture of
this beautiful flower is surely an encouragement to the introduction of
other sorts, there being above four hundred kinds, especially as they
may be obtained from seed or pipings sent packed in moss, which will
remain in good condition for two or three months, provided no moisture
beyond what is natural to the moss, have access to them.
The distinguishing marks of a good carnation may be thus described: the
stem should be tall and straight, strong, elastic, and having rather
short foot stalks, the flower should be fully three inches in diameter
with large well formed petals, round and uncut, long and broad, so as to
stand out well, rising about half an inch above the calyx, and then the
outer ones turned off in a horizontal direction, supporting those of the
centre, decreasing gradually in size, the whole forming a near approach
to a hemisphere. It flowers in April and May.
Propagation--is performed either by seed, by layers, or by pipings;
the best time for making the two latter is when the plant is in full
blossom, as they then root more strongly. In this operation the lower
leaves should be trimmed off, and an incision made with a sharp knife,
by entering the knife about a quarter of an inch below the joint,
passing it through its centre; it must then be pegged down with a hooked
peg, and covered with about a quarter of an inch of light rich mould; if
kept regularly moist, the layers will root in about a month's time: they
may then be taken off and planted out into pots in a sheltered
situation, neither exposed to excessive rain, nor sun, until they shoot
out freely.
Pipings (or cuttings as they are called in other plants) must be taken
off from a healthy, free growing plant, and should have two complete
joints, being cut off horizontally close under the second one; the
extremities of the leaves must also be shortened, leaving the whole
length of each piping two inches; they should be thrown into a basin of
soft water for a few minutes to plump them, and then planted out in
moist rich mould, not more than an inch being inserted therein, and
slightly watered to settle the earth close around them; after this the
soil should be kept moderately moist, and never exposed to the sun. Seed
is seldom resorted to except to introduce new varieties.
Soil, &c.--A mixture of old well rotted stable manure, with one-third
the quantity of good fine loamy earth, and a small portion of sand, is
the best soil for carnations.
Culture.--The plants should be sheltered from too heavy a fall of
rain, although they require to be kept moderately moist, and desire an
airy situation. When the flower stalks are about six or eight inches in
height, they must be supported by sticks, and, if large full blossoms be
sought for, all the buds, except the leading one, must be removed with a
pair of scissors; the calyx must also be frequently examined, as it is
apt to burst, and if any disposition to this should appear, it will be
well to assist the uniform expansion by cutting the angles with a sharp
penknife. If, despite all precautions the calyx burst and let out the
petals, it should be carefully tied with thread, or a circular piece of
card having a hole in the centre should be drawn over the bud so as to
hold the petals together, and display them to advantage by the contrast
of the white color.
Insects, &c.--The most destructive are the red, and the large black
ant, which attack, and frequently entirely destroy the roots before you
can be aware of its approach; powdered turmeric should therefore be
constantly kept strewed around this flower.
The Common Pink, Dianthus Chinensis, Kurunful, and the Sweet
William, D: barbatus, are pretty, ornamental plants, and may be
propagated and cultivated in the same way as the carnation, save that
they do not require so much care, or so good a soil, any garden mould
sufficing; they are also more easily produced from seed.
The VIOLET, Viola, Puroos, is a class containing many beautiful
flowers, some highly ornamental and others odoriferous.
The Sweet Violet, V. odorata, Bunufsh'eh, truly the poet's flower.
It is a deserved favorite for its delightful fragrance as well as its
delicate and retiring purple flowers; there is also a white variety, but
it is rare in this country, as is also the double kind. This blossoms in
the latter part of the cold weather.
The Shrubby Violet, V. arborescens, or suffruticosa, Rutunpuroos,
grows wild in the hills, and is a pretty blue flower, but wants the
fragrance of the foregoing.
The Dog's Violet, V. canina, is also indigenous in the hills.
Propagation.--All varieties may be propagated by seed, but the most
usual method is by dividing the roots, or taking off the runners.
Soil, &c.--The natural habitat of the indigenous varieties is the
sides and interstices of the rocks, where leaf mould, and micaceous
sand, has accumulated and moisture been retained, indicating that the
kind of soil favorable to the growth of this interesting little plant is
a rich vegetable mould, with an admixture of sand, somewhat moist, but
having a dry subsoil.
Culture.--It would not be safe to trust this plant in the open ground
except during a very short period of the early part of the cold weather,
when the so doing will give it strength to form blossoms. In January,
however, it should be re-potted, filling the pots about half-full of
pebbles or stone-mason's cuttings, over which should be placed good rich
vegetable mould, mixed with a large proportion of sand, covering with a
thin layer of the same material as has been put into the bottom of the
pot; a top dressing of ground bones is said to improve the fineness of
the blossoms. They should not be kept too dry, but at the same time
watered cautiously, as too much of either heat or moisture destroys the
plants.
The Pansy or Heart's-ease, V. tricolor, Kheeroo, kheearee, derives
its first name from the French Pensée. It was known amongst the early
Christians by the name of Flos Trinitatis, and worn as a symbol of
their faith. The high estimation which it has of late years attained in
Great Britain as a florist's flower has, in the last two or three years,
extended itself to this country. There are nearly four hundred
varieties, a few of which only have been found here.
The characters of a fine Heart's-ease are, the flower being well
expanded, offering a flat, or if any thing, rather a revolute surface,
and the petals so overlapping each other as to form a circle without any
break in the outline. These should be as nearly as possible of a size,
and the greater length of the two upper ones concealed by the covering
of those at the side in such manner as to preserve the appearance of
just proportion: the bottom petal being broad and two-lobed, and well
expanded, not curving inwards. The eye should be of moderate, or rather
small size, and much additional beauty is afforded, if the pencilling is
so arranged as to give the appearance of a dark angular spot. The colors
must also be clear, bright, and even, not clouded or indistinct.
Undoubtedly the handsomest kinds are those in which the two upper petals
are of deep purple and the triade of a shade less: in all, the flower
stalk should be long and stiff. The plant blossoms in this country in
February and March, although it is elsewhere a summer flower.
Propagation.--In England the moat usual methods are dividing the
roots, layers, or cuttings from the stem, and these are certainly the
only sure means of preserving a good variety; but it is almost
impossible in India to preserve the plant through the hot weather, and
therefore it is more generally treated as an annual, and raised every
year from seed, which should be sown at the close of the rains; as
however their growth, in India is as yet little known, most people put
the imported seed into pots as soon as it arrives, lest the climate
should deteriorate its germinating power, as it is well known, that even
in Europe the seed should be sown as soon as possible after ripening. It
will be well also to assist its sprouting with a little bottom heat, by
plunging the pot up to its rim in a hot bed. American seed should be
avoided as the blossoms are little to be depended on, and generally
yield small, ill-formed flowers, clouded and run in color.
Soil, &c.--This should be moist, and the best compost is formed of
one-sixth of well rotted dung from an old hot bed, and five-sixth of
loam, or one-fourth of leaf mould and the remainder loam, but in either
case well incorporated and exposed for some time previous to use to the
action of the sun and air by frequent turning.
Culture.--A shady situation is to be preferred, especially for the
dark varieties which assume a deeper hue if so placed. But it has been
observed by Mackintosh, that "the light varieties bloomed lighter in the
shade, and darker in the sunshine--a very remarkable effect, for which I
cannot account." The plants must at all times be kept moist, never being
allowed to become dry, and should be so placed as to receive only the
morning sun before ten o'clock. Under good management the plants will
extend a foot or more in height, and have a handsome appearance if
trained over a circular trellis of rattan twisted. When they rise too
high, or it is desirable to fill out with side shoots, the tops must be
pinched off, and larger flowers will be obtained if the flower buds are
thinned out where they appear crowded.
These plants look very handsome when grown in large masses of several
varieties, but the seeds of those grown in this manner should not be
made use of, as they are sure to sport; to prevent which it is also
necessary that the plants which it is desired to perpetuate in this
manner should be isolated at a distance from any other kind, and it
would be advisable to cover them with thin gauze to prevent impregnation
from others by means of the bees and other insects. For show flowers the
branches should be kept down, and not suffered to straggle out or
multiply; these will also be improved by pegging the longer branches
down under the soil, and thereby increasing the number of the root
fibres, hence adding to their power of accumulating nourishment, and not
allowing them to expand beyond a limited number of blossoms, and those
retained should be as nearly equal in age as possible.
The HYDRANGEA is a hardy plant requiring a good deal of moisture, being
by nature an inhabitant of the marshes.
The Changeable Hydrangea, H. hortensis, is of Chinese origin and a
pretty growing plant that deserves to be a favorite; it blossoms in
bunches of flowers at the extremities of the branches which are
naturally pink, but in old peat earth, or having a mixture of alum, or
iron filings, the color changes to blue. It blooms in March and April.
Propagation may be effected by cuttings, which root freely, or by
layers.
Soil, &c.--Loam and old leaf mould, or peat with a very small
admixture of sand suits this plant. Their growth is much promoted by
being turned out, for a month or two in the rains, into the open ground,
and then re-potted with new soil, the old being entirely removed from
the roots: and to make it flower well it must not be encumbered with too
many branches.
The HOYA is properly a trailing plant, rooting at the joints, but have
been generally cultivated here as a twiner.
The Fleshy-leaved Hoya, H. carnosa, is vulgarly called the wax flower
from its singular star shaped-whitish pink blossoms, with a deep colored
varnished centre, having more the appearance of a wax model than a
production of nature. The flowers appear in globular groups and have a
very handsome appearance from the beginning of April to the close of the
rains.
The Green flowered Hoya, H. viridiflora, Nukchukoree, teel kunga,
with its green flowers in numerous groups, is also an interesting plant,
it is esteemed also for its medicinal properties.
Propagation.--Every morsel of these plants, even a piece of the leaf,
will form roots if put in the ground, cuttings therefore strike very
freely, as do layers, the joints naturally throwing out root-fibres
although not in the earth.
Soil, &c.--A light loam moderately dry is the best for these plants,
which look well if trained round a circular trellis in the open border.
The STAPELIA is an extensive genus of low succulent plants without
leaves, but yielding singularly handsome star-shaped flowers; they are
of African origin growing in the sandy deserts, but in a natural state
very diminutive being increased to their present condition and numerous
varieties by cultivation, they mostly have an offensive smell whence
some people call them the carrion plant. They deserve more attention
than has hitherto been shown to them in India.
The Variegated Stapelia, S. variegata, yields a flower in November,
the thick petals of which are yellowish green with brown irregular
spots, it is the simplest of the family.
The Revolute-flowered Stapelia, S. revoluta, has a green blossom very
fully sprinkled with deep purple, it flowers at the close of the rains.
The Toad Stapelia, S. bufonia, as its name implies, is marked like the
back of the reptile from whence it has its name; it flowers in December
and January.
The Hairy Stapelia, S. hirsuta, is a very handsome variety, being,
like the rest, of green and brown, but the entire flower covered with
fine filaments or hairs of a light purple, at various periods of the
year.
The Starry Stapelia, S. stellaris, is perhaps the most beautiful of
the whole, being like the last covered with hairs, but they are of a
bright pinkish blue color; there appears to be no fixed period for
flowering.
The HAIRY CARRULLUMA, C. crinalata, belongs to the same family as the
foregoing species, which it much resembles, except that it blossoms in
good sized globular groups of small star-shaped flowers of green,
studded and streaked with brown.
Propagation is exceedingly easy with each of the last named two
species; as the smallest piece put in any soil that is moist, without
being saturated, will throw out root fibres.
Soil, &c.--This should consist of one-half sand, one-fourth garden
mould, and one-fourth well rotted stable manure. The pots in which they
are planted should have on the top a layer of pebbles, or broken brick.
All the after culture they require is to keep them within bounds,
removing decayed portions as they appear and avoiding their having too
much moisture.
The perennial border plants, besides those included above, are very
numerous; the directions for cultivation admitting, from their
similarity, of the following general rules:--
Propagation.--Although some few will admit of other modes of
multiplication, the most usually successful are by seed, by suckers, or
by offsets, and by division of the root, the last being applicable to
nine-tenths of the hardy herbaceous plants, and performed either by
taking up the whole plant and gently separating it by the hand, or by
opening the ground near the one to be divided, and cutting off a part of
the roots and crown to make new the sections being either at once
planted where they are to stand, or placed for a short period in a
nursery; the best time for this operation is the beginning of the rains.
Offsets or suckers being rapidly produced during the rains, will be best
removed towards their close, at which period, also, seed should be sown
to benefit by the moisture remaining in the soil. The depth at which
seeds are buried in the earth varies with their magnitude, all the pea
or vetch kind will bear being put at a depth of from half an inch to one
inch; but with the smallest seeds it will be sufficient to scatter them,
on the sifted soil, beating them down with, the palm of the hand.
Culture.--Transplanting this description of plants will be performed
to best advantage during the rains. The general management is
comprehended in stirring the soil occasionally in the immediate vicinity
of the roots; taking up overgrown plants, reducing and replanting them,
for which the rains is the best time; renewing the soil around the
roots; sticking the weak plants; pruning and trimming others, so as to
remove all weakly or decayed parts.
Once a year, before the rains, the whole border should be dug one or two
spits deep, adding soil from the bottom of a tank or river; and again,
in the cold weather, giving a moderate supply of well rotted stable
manure, and leaf mould in equal portions.
Crossing is considered as yet in its infancy even in England, and has,
except with the Marvel of Peru, hardly even been attempted in this
country. The principles under which this is effected are fully explained
at page 27 of the former part of this work; but it may also be done in
the more woody kinds by grafting one or more of the same genus on the
stock of another, the seed of which would give a new variety.
Saving seed requires great attention in India, as it should be taken
during the hot weather if possible; to effect which the earliest
blossoms must be preserved for this purpose. With some kinds it will be
advisable to assist nature by artificial impregnation with a camel hair
pencil, carefully placing the pollen on the point of the stigma. The
seeds should be carefully dried in some open, airy place, but not
exposed to the sun, care being afterwards taken that they shall be
deposited in a dry place, not close or damp, whence the usual plan of
storing the seeds in bottles is not advisable.
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