1879.] THE CARNATION. 515 



otherwise supplied, would not be absorbed by radiation. The better 

 class of fruits— such as Peaches, Plums, Cherries, and Apricots— might 

 be more condensed in area; and Pears, which seem to do better than 

 anything else, might still occupy the bare walls. 



In addition to the regular crops of fruit, there would be early crops 

 of Potatoes, French Beans, and Peas ad libitum — delicacies which green- 

 grocers know how to charge for early in the London season. So much 

 for new gardens, some one may say, but what about the old 1 My 

 answer is, that one-half the expense is already laid out where there are 

 existing walls already furnished with fruiting trees. Cover the walls 

 or some portion of them with glass, and have regular crops of fruit and 

 crops of early vegetables, which, I dare venture to assert, are a costly 

 commodity to London families during the months of April and May. 



I know a range of fruit-houses in the neighbourhood of Liverpool 

 101 yards long, where the back wall is covered with stone fruit-trees 

 which produce never-failing crops, and the borders supply early crops 

 of Peas, Potatoes, Beans, Cauliflowers, salading, &c, which are invalu- 

 able, and which at that time of year could hardly be purchased for 

 love or money. The protection of fruit-trees in flower by means of 

 Fern litter, spruce branches, tiffany, and all the other remedies, which 

 are as numerous as patent medicines, are proved to be a perfect 

 sinecure, and nothing short of some really effective remedy should 

 be discussed by practical horticulturists in future. Let the financial 

 bearings of both sides of the question be fairly compared, and I feel 

 confident that only one result will follow. W- Hinds. 



Canford Gaedexs, Dorset. 



THE CARNATION. 



There is an apparent revival in the love for this old-fashioned florist- 

 flower ; and as the requirements of the plant are by many who wish to 

 cultivate it only very imperfectly understood, a note on its cultivation 

 may be acceptable to many. Some of the free-growing sorts are com- 

 paratively common — as the varieties which are clove-scented, and some 

 of the Picotees ; but the kind of treatment which will suit these is 

 simply enough to kill the finer and more tender kinds. It is there- 

 fore necessary to grow these in pots. The present is the only season 

 that we have had anything like success with Carnations and Picotees 

 planted out of doors. But even with the amount of success attained, 

 we will plant none but the strongest-growing kinds out in future. 

 Most florists do not consider Picotees and Carnations as admissible 

 in the same stands, and I was somewhat surprised to find the two 

 staged together at the exhibition of one of the very oldest societies. 

 And no doubt they were in a degree right, as Picotees are as much 

 Carnations as are Bizarres or Flakes. In addition to these old-estab- 



