118 PICTORIAL PRACTICAL CARNATION GROWING. 
plant possesses. Plants thus treated will summer well out of doors, 
and bloom profusely the following winter, as shown on p. 121. 
American Carnations. 
A few remarks may well be devoted here to what is termed the 
American Carnation, for it, too, is a winter and spring bloomer. 
There is little doubt that this beautiful class will grow rapidly in 
favour in Great Britain. The plants have large flowers of brilliant 
colours and delicious perfume, borne on very long, strong stems. 
The vigorous flower stalks are a great feature of the American 
Carnations, as they render the blooms so valuable for decoration. 
Straitlaced florists of the old English school look askance at the 
fringed edges of the American type. The writer has seen such a one 
shiver in_ very horror at the sight. But it must be remembered that 
there are thousands of flower lovers in this country who care nothing 
whether the petals of Carnations have smooth or wavy, whole or cut, 
edges, so long as the colours are vivid and the perfume is strong. 
We must not let insular prejudice blind us to the real merits of these 
transatlantic flowers. They have their value and their place. Who 
that has seen the charming collections at recent great shows of the’ 
toyal Horticultural Society can fail to admire them? They are 
winning thousands of fresh adherents yearly, and this means that 
new varieties will keep springing up, for home raisers will certainly 
enter into rivalry with American cross fertilisers. 
It is hardly likely that novelties will make so great a stir, and 
realise such extraordinary prices here, as they have done on the 
other side of the streak. The sensational advent of Mrs. T. W. 
Lawson will be remembered in this connection. The demand is so 
great in America that thousands of pounds are invested in popular 
sorts. The great object there is to get cut bloom at Christmas. The 
plants are not grown in pots, asa rule, but planted out on benches or 
stages. 
In this country the outline of culture indicated for the ordinary 
Tree Carnations may be applied to the American varieties with 
success. 
TREE OR PERPETUAL SECTION. FIG. 57 (NEXT PAGE).—REPOTTING 
A YEARLING FLOWERED PLANT FOR THE SECOND SEASON’S 
BLOOMING. 
V, the plant turned out of the 7-inch pot in which it flowered in autumn and 
winter, denuded of old leaves, the flower stems cut off, and the ball 
reduced preparatory to repotting : ¢, points where the flower stems were 
shortened toin March or April; d, young grass retained for furnishing 
the plant; ¢, ball. 
W, the plant after repotting and staking: f, drainage; g, rougher parts of 
the compost; 4, ball; 7, soil; 7, space for water; /, stakes; /, 9-inch 
pot stood on a level bed of rough ashes, m, and half plunged in finer 
ashes, 2, in an open but sheltered position out of doors. 
