MARCH. 49 



ject to canker, and the fruit will be full of cracks and spotty : on an 

 east or west wall it is a very abundant and sure bearer. 



This excellent winter Pear was raised by M. NeHs of MechUn, 

 and is known in many gardens under the name of Bonne de Malines. 



Frogmore, J. Powell. 



CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES. 



If the soil is in good order, lose no time in potting the above for 

 blooming ; a little cold weather (should it set in) will do but little 

 harm, provided the plants have been properly wintered ; therefore pro- 

 ceed with this operation till all have been potted up. For details con- 

 cerning this important part of the culture of our favourites, we cannot 

 perhaps do better than refer to the excellent advice given by " Omi- 

 cron" in last Number of the Florist. In running the eye over the 

 frame, it will be apparent which should be first commenced with ; 

 any one can pick out the strong healthy-growing kinds, which fill 

 the small pots full of roots much sooner than those of an opposite 

 character. 



As regards Carnations, we shall commence with Puxley's Prince 

 Albert and Princess Royal, Brutus, Duncan, and leave such as Ad- 

 miral Curzon and Martin's Splendid till the last. 



In Picotees, we shall begin with Juliet, Mary, Prince Arthur, 

 Portia, &c., and finish with those varieties that would suffer by too 

 much wet, hail, or severe cold, such as Green's Queen, and others 

 known as "bad doers." 



We do not know that we can help our amateur friends, or give 

 more useful information to Carnation and Picotee growers generally, 

 at the present time, than telling them to divide the strong from the 

 weak growers, in order that the error of overstocking one pot, while 

 others have a meagre appearance, may be avoided. This is often the 

 case ; and yet the same number of plants may have been put into 

 each pot, the robust and the weak kinds alike. We must here state 

 that the division is made under the impression that all the plants are 

 in good health. Who has not seen Mrs. Barnard in such a condition 

 that six plants would not make a respectable pot } while of good healthy 

 stuff, two or three would be sufficient. The number of plants we 

 prefer and recommend for one pot, as a general rule, is three; yet there 

 must be exceptions ; for instance, in purchasing a new kind, in most 

 cases, a pair will be the outside number, and some, rather than not 

 have the variety at all, are content with one plant ; therefore one of 

 two things must be put up with; either a smaller pot must be used, 

 which is not so convenient for getting the layers down, or the pot 

 must be poorly filled. With a choice of plants, however, three will 

 be the better number, unless they are very strong, when a pair only 

 will be sufficient. We have often heard that Flora's Garland should 

 be grown singly, or one plant in a pot ; we have tried it in that way, 

 and also with three, but we have found no difference in the quaUty 

 of the bloom. 



