98 PICTORIAL PRACTICAL CARNATION GROWING. 
the white Thora, we have a fair range of colour, combined with 
great size, splendid shape, and delicious fragrance. 
.  Itcannot be said that the Malmaisons are a tractable class. They 
are always more or less capricious, and are particularly troublesome 
when grown in a mixed collection of plants. Even in a large estab- 
lishment, where a fine house was devoted specially to them, and 
every requisite provided, the writer has known a change of 
attendant lead to a marked decline in health and vigour, albeit the 
new man had had previous experience of the class. It was as though 
the plants, like a captious filly who had bestowed her affections on 
one particular stable lad, resented any change as an encroachment 
on their royal rights and privileges! The one house amateur who 
takes up Malmaison culture does so at his own risk. Should he 
succeed, much honour will be due to him. 
Propagation by Layering. 
The Malmaisons were formerly propagated by cuttings, but the 
modern plan is layering. This should be done with glass protection 
after flowering in late spring or early summer. Where frames are 
few and overcharged an enclosure may be made by placing two 
boards on edge, with a central bearer flush with the woodwork at the 
centre to carry a couple of lights. These can, of course, be drawn up 
or down at will. 
En a a ns 
CULTURE OF MALMAISONS. FIG. 46 (NEXT PAGE)—LIFTING AND 
POTTING LAYERS. 
E, a layer made from long grass, hence somewhat weakly : ¢, ball of soil and 
roots; «, proper depth of potting; v, the usual depth chosen for 
appearance sake—too deep. 
F, a leggy layer, the result of making a tongue too low down on the shoot: 
w, ball of soil and roots; x, proper depth of potting; y, the usual depth 
of placing in the soil, the roots at the bottom of the pot—very bad 
practice. 
G, a plant resulting from making the tongue just under the crown leaves 
in order to secure a short stemmed plant: z, ball of soil and roots; a, 
proper depth of potting. 
H, a shoot showing: 4, point where the tongue should be made to secure 
a short stemmed plant; c, crown of leaves. 
I, sturdy, vigorous plant from a layer put into a 4-inch pot: d, drainage; e, 
a thin layer of moss ; f, rough parts of the compost; g, soil; 4, ball of 
soil and roots; i, space for water. 
J, a somewhat tall plant put into a 4-inch pot: j, drainage; 4, soil; /, ball 
of soil and roots; m, space for water; , stake. 
K, an improvised frame in which the plants are placed after potting: 0, 
bricks on which the sides of the frame rest; y, boards 11 inches deep; 
qg, stakes to which the boards are nailed; 7, light; s, the dotted lines 
show the usual type of frame, in which the plants are some distance 
from the glass, and become drawn; ¢, ground level; uw, ashes on which 
to stand the pots; v, plants given plenty of room. 
