CARNATIONS IN TOWN GARDENS 71 



nothing else. Some may be supported by means of 

 the green wires already mentioned, and those planted 

 near the edge of the box allowed to droop naturally, 

 or the edging may be of white Pinks. 



Marguerite Carnations 



This group of Carnations represents a new race, 

 obtained apparently by crossing an early-flowering 

 type with Dianthus chincnsis (the Indian Pink). It is 

 practically an annual, though in a favourable season 

 the plant may reveal something of a biennial char- 

 acter. Certainly they should be in the town garden, 

 as they will begin to flower within six months of 

 sowing the seed, and this is a brief space to wait 

 for flowers so sweet in perfume and rich in colouring. 

 Sow the seed in February and March, pot on the 

 seedlings when this is necessary, and gradually harden 

 them off so that they may be placed out of doors in 

 April or May. The flowers will appear about August. 

 They may be either planted out in the border or kept 

 through the summer in pots. The finest flowers come 

 from pot culture, but of course when growing the 

 plants in this way close attention is needful to water- 

 ing. If the plants are lifted from the garden borders 

 and brought into a warm greenhouse they will con- 

 tinue to bloom more or less until Christmas, the 

 degree of success depending in a large measure upon 

 the weather and the attention they receive. Weekly 

 applications of guano-water are a great help to their 

 continued flowering. If seed is sown in autumn the 



