50 



iiM>ii <..\iM)i:\i\( 



si-iiiii iir lillaiiN will luiiij: tnit in ilicir full 

 hfauty and |uiii(\ all tlir ^'l<iii«iiis colours \\iv\ 

 liavr. I*'<ir cxliiltit ion tlu-rc arc canvas cajis for 

 each iiuli\i(lnal Mooni. hut (hose who seriously 

 ^row Htirder Carnations for cxhihition <;r<iw 

 them in ]>ots. staiul tlieni on a cool ash Ixittoin 

 out of (hiors until tlie hlooins sli<»w colour : tliev 

 aiv then renioNtd to a tent made <if scrim or 

 to a greenhouse, as the weather dictates, tn if 

 they are too early or too late for the sliow . 



Immediately the hlooms are <iil. we must 

 commence a;rain to layci- next scixmis stock. 

 and every day is of importaiu'c. as eaily |>laiitiiiL^ 

 nteans success the foll<iwin»i year. 



The ojjcratioii of layerin|.r Carnations is a 

 sim])le matter, the oKl plant Jias all the old 

 h'aves cleaned otT exce^jt ahout four ])aiis <tf 

 leaves at the to]) <«f tl»e strongest shoots. .Ml 

 tlic weak layers are cut ofT, leaving about scNcn 

 or eight. The layer will he alx.ut 4 to .'> inches 

 long, and at the fourth joint a jiotch is cut u]) 

 ahout half inch into the centre ;»f the stem w itli 

 a shar]) knife, leaving half the joint attached to 

 the little thong made by the incision. The 

 layer is carefully bent until it can be tixcd 

 upright when pegged into the ])repared soil 

 waiting for it. 



Water the old ])lants: in fact should the 

 weather be dry. as is usually the ease in early 

 August, the beds should be soaked the night 

 before layering the new plants. The fol- 

 lowing morning caretully loosen the soil froui 

 around the ])lants with a small hand fork; 

 prepare some soil. e(iual parts loam and leaf- 

 mould, with a pr(.i)()rtion of «and to make the 

 comiX)st feel shai]) to the hand : pass through 

 a ^-inch riddle. and place this fine soil around the 

 plants to receive the layers ; this soil should be 

 prepared the previous day, to be ready to hand 

 when needed. Lightly press the soil down with 

 the hand : try ajul work some soil between the 

 little thong and the stem connecting to the 

 parent plant, and ])eg down firmly in the ground . 

 Please note, in i)aKsing, that it is at the end of 

 this little thong, w^ith a portion of the joint 

 attaclied. that the new roots come, so care must 

 be taken not to damage it. At the end of every 

 hour it will Ix' necessary to water with a fine 

 rose or water-can all the layers we have finished, 

 and in a hot smniy day a few old news]mpers 

 spread lightly on to]i lielps them to get over 

 their first day : no shading is necessary after, 

 and only on a hot day if at all. Afterwards, 

 every evening, look over the layers, and if the 

 soil be dry, water w^ith a rose-can. T do not 

 like pouring a lot of \\ater on Carnation layers, 

 but the soil luust be made thoroughly moist once 

 a day if the weather be dry. Please do not do 

 this watering as a habit but oidy if the soil be 

 dry. After a fortnight the layers ought to be 



able to take care ot t hcniscK c-^. In live weeks 

 they should be ready lo lie < iit tiom the parent 

 l)lant. and after a lew ila\> iln\ can be lifted 

 and put into the new l>cds which have been 

 prcjtarcd for them. liefore cutting <ilT the 

 the layers examine tlie roots on the new 

 ])lants by rising up one in several ]>arts (»f the 

 beds. I'sually when one is accustonu'd t» this 

 woik. it is (|uitc an ca>y matter to kimw it the 

 plants are looted liy llic appcaranci' of new 

 signs of gidwtli in tln' centre ot the layer, but 

 the beginner at tln> interesting operation 

 w<iuld bi' wisi' to make smc. 



I have added a list of varieties 1 lia\c used 

 foi- several years : each grower hnds his (»wn 

 favourites, usually because for some unkiu)wn 

 i-eason these varieties do better with liim: — Mrs. 

 IJcynolds Hole. one of the oldest varieties, known 

 in some ])laccs amongst the exjK'rts as hard 

 to grow well, growing without any sj)ecial cfTort 

 in other gardens — this one does s])len<lidly with 

 nu'. Crown naturall>- w ithout disbudding, it is a 

 ^ight to be a]>picciated ; the old clove, with five 

 laycis jK'gged idund the ])arent ])lant grown on 

 without being lifted gives better blooms, and 

 niori' of them than in new beds. 1 often ask 

 why. I1111 I caniU/t get an answer. The moral is, 

 if you tind out a good way of giving good results, 

 stick to it : if you have a good old variety 

 giving good results, stick to it. Tiy the new 

 ones by all means ; there is ])leasure in it — the 

 inicertaintyisa pleasure — but do iu)t expect them 

 to always turn up with the virtuous lasting 

 (pialitiesof a tried and old friend. 



Twelve varieties for exhibition ; — Linkman, 

 Sam Weller, Pasquin. Xi/.am Ronny Buchanan, 

 7ai\u. Sir Galahad. Cecelia. Ladv Hermoine. 

 Cardinal. Duchess of Wellinirtcu'i. Kli/abeth 

 Schiffner. 



Twenty-four varieties for the garden : — 

 Father OFlynn. Duchess of Wellington. Honny 

 P)uchaiuxn. Loid Caiew. Jvichness. Mrs. W. H. 

 Taylor. Pas(pun. .lack London, Chintz. Silver 

 l'\)X. Sir Galahad. Honeymoon. H. J. Cutbrush, 

 Fire Kiiig. Bendigo, Uaflfodil, Solfaterre, The 

 Manpiis. Sam Weller. Duchess of Fife, Mrs. 

 1{(\ Holds Hole. Raby Castle. Old Clove, Dublin 

 Pink. The last five varieties are best grown 

 naturally without dislnidding. 



Twelve newer varieties worthy of trial : — 

 King George, white : Queen Mary, rose ])ink ; 

 liecky Shar]). yellow ground, fajicy : Dora 

 Blick, dec]) apricot ; Mrs. Andrew Brotherston, 

 shaded ]wr])le, some white spots ; Bookham, 

 white ; Lady Carew. clear apricot : Sidjiey 

 Carton, maroon and yellow : H. J. Thorton, 

 scarlet ; Droitwich. white groimd, fancy ; 

 Lieutenant Shackelton. yellow ground, fancy ; 

 My Fancy. The last is a jieculiar ajid new com- 

 binationof colours, very taking with some i)eople. 



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