1879.] CARNATIONS, PICOTEES, AND PINKS. 63 



CARNATIONS, PICOTEES, AND PINKS. 



Some months ago, a correspondent, a lover of these sweet plants, whose 

 efforts at their cultivation had not been rewarded with desired success, 

 asked me to write an article on their cultivation in ' The Gardener ' ; 

 and as I find the subject has not lately been treated of in these pages, 

 I the more readily accede to the request. 



Soil. — Perhaps the most important matter in the successful cultiva- 

 tion of these plants consists in having a properly prepared compost for 

 growing them. The finest plants, yielding the most satisfactory crops 

 of bloom I ever remember seeing, were grown in rather heavy turfy 

 loam that was stored, but not required, for a vinery border. It was 

 stacked in ridges, with one-fourth its own bulk of clean horse-droppings, 

 and once, during frosty weather, thoroughly saturated with cow-urine. 

 The soil on the sites of the intended beds (a heavy clay) was removed to 

 the depth of 2^ feet, and some lime-rubbish put in the bottom to secure 

 thorough drainage; for although these plants thrive best in a cool, moist 

 soil, stagnant water is very injurious to them. When the soil was placed 

 in the beds, a very little leaf-mould was mixed with it, and the plants 

 planted, 15 inches apart, about the end of March — and they did splen- 

 didly. I have also seen them do well on the same soil when the under 

 layers of the clay were burnt and mixed with the best of the natural 

 soil, with the addition of good, well-decayed stable-yard manure. In 

 light soils it is advisable to procure some heavy soil for the purpose of 

 giving it more body ; for although the plants thrive tolerably well in 

 light soil if in fair condition — more especially Pinks — yet a somewhat 

 heavy soil gives flowers of greater size and substance. 



After the plants have begun to throw up the flower-stems, they will 

 require to be tied to neat stakes to prevent them from being blown 

 over by wind when they are coming into flower ; for when this hap- 

 pens, not only are the flowers spoilt, but the plants are injured into 

 the bargain. If the blooms be wanted for exhibition, a little manure- 

 water, given while the stems are running up, but withheld before the 

 flowers open, will assist them greatly. If too strong, or if applied too 

 late, it may cause the colours to "run." To produce the very finest 

 blooms, remove all the flower-buds except the main ones. To insure 

 the bloom opening regularly, it may be necessary to tie the calyx with 

 a bit of matting, and to slit it with a thin sharp knife, when one side 

 bursts before the other. Shading from the hot mid-day sun, and from 

 dashing rain, will secure flowers in the greatest perfection for the 

 greatest possible time. 



Propagation. — They are easily propagated by cuttings ; but I prefer 

 layers. If cuttings are taken, July, or early in August, is the proper 

 time ; and moist weather is to be preferred. The cuttings should be 

 put in a shady place, in light soil, with a dash of sand in it, covered 

 with a hand-glass, and properly attended to with water, so that they 



