36 CARNATIONS AND PINKS 



Xerxesy deep rose. The colours of course describe the 

 margins only, and these are of various widths, narrow, 

 medium, and heavy included. 



Culture 



The culture of the Picotee does not differ materially 

 from that of the Carnation, It is supposed by many 

 to be a tender plant which does not succeed well in 

 the open garden. The varieties in cultivation before 

 Prince of Orange came into existence were certainly 

 of very poor constitution ; but to the progeny of that 

 variety and careful selection we owe the vigorous 

 varieties recorded in the above list. The white ground 

 varieties as a rule are deficient in vigour, but all of 

 them can be grown out of doors, and, curiously, the 

 strongest plants of the white ground Picotees we have 

 ever seen were in the county of Northumberland in 

 cottage gardens. They are planted early in Novem- 

 ber, as by that time the layers are well rooted, and the 

 plants are established before severe frosts. October 

 is the best month. In many low-lying gardens, 

 especially when the soil is heavy clay, it is wise to 

 plant out in spring. For spring planting pot the 

 layers in small flower-pots, and shelter them during 

 winter in garden frames. In this position they must 

 be kept free from green-fly by fumigation and also 

 from decaying leaves. When "spot" or "rust" 

 appears cut the leaves off. March is the month to 

 plant out in the open garden. The bed should be 

 well prepared by a thorough forking over on a fine 



