SEPTEMBER. 271 



Bowling's system may not be unacceptable to the readers of the Florisl • — 

 In spring, he prepares " sods " of turfy loam, say three inches broad, 

 and about the same in depth, the length according to convenience. 

 Cutting off the grassy surface, he then shakes over the top a little sand ; 

 the cuttings are then put in a single row up the centre of each strip of 

 turf, which is then removed to the cutting-pits. When struck they 

 can be cut or torn apart, and planted out without any trouble or expense 

 of potting, and it answers the purpose equally well. Nothing could be 

 more simple when the modus operandi is understood. This plan is not 

 alone restricted here to bedding-out plants, but we noticed a great 

 quantity of greenhouse plants struck in the same way. From the 

 perfect neatness and order which were everywhere apparent on those 

 extensive grounds and gardens, we are irresistibly led to form a high 

 opinion of Mr. Dowling's assiduity, professional skill, and taste. 

 Ireland, July. D. 



NATIONAL CARNATION AND PICOTEE SOCIETY. 

 Why call it National? say I; for this year I take up the list I 

 have made, and find there were thirty-one prizes, independent of the 

 class-showing. Of these there were thirteen taken by Yorkshire 

 growers, twelve by those of Lancashire, four by those of Warwickshire, 

 and two by the north part of Derbyshire. Are these the only counties 

 where Carnations and Picotees are grown? or has there been a 

 mistake? And has the Northern Counties' Carnation and Picotee 

 exhibition been held instead of the National ? I could find no Mr. 

 Turner — no southern growers at all. The midlands, too, were absent. 

 The reason was obvious ; the exhibition was fixed much too late ; and I 

 hold, as I have done before, and as I have done publicly in print this 

 year, that the National Show — if it is really to be a National Show — 

 must be held in July. The National Society headed their circulars, 

 that the proposed amalgamation of the two societies (viz., the Northern 

 Counties and the National) was not acceptable to the great majority of 

 cultivators ; but I think it is hardly fair that the southern and midland 

 counties should have no chance to represent their various localities. The 

 blooms with me had been over nearly three weeks — that is, the best of 

 the bloom ; and on the day of exhibition I don't think a pan could have 

 been cut from the whole of the county. I do not make these remarks 

 with any ill feeling at all, but s'mply to prevent a recurrence of the 

 same, for it must of necessity damage the Society, because the mid- 

 landers and the southern men will undoubtedly withhold their support, 

 if debarred from showing. The management of the whole reflected 

 credit on the secretaries and committee. In the analysis it will be 

 found that the greatest number of flowers were old faces. In the 

 crimson bizarre class of Carnations Black Diamond and Warrior are 

 most frequent, which is about the same position occupied by them last 

 season. In scarlet bizarres Admiral Curzon maintains its old position, 

 while Dreadnought, a flower remarkably like it and a new competitor, 

 comes second. In rose flakes Lovely Ann is, as last year, first ; while 



