84 CARNATIONS AND PINKS 



sprinkling of mature guano is given, which seems to 

 have a desirable effect. Constitution, however, has 

 much to do with the success of border varieties. 

 Scores of new varieties are introduced every season, 

 a large number of which have been certificated 

 by the National Carnation and Royal Horticultural 

 Societies. The majority of these sorts are quite use- 

 less to the garden, that is, to stand our mildest 

 winters and produce fair blooms in the open beds or 

 borders." The general opinion is, that the mysterious 

 dying of the Carnation is due to the weakly stock 

 and an over-rich soil. One contributor to the dis- 

 cussion suggested much the same cause, namely, 

 killing of the plants by over-kindness. " Is it not 

 possible that we kill our Carnations by over-kindness 

 in giving them a too strong soil to grow in ? I have 

 never seen finer flowers than those in a small sun- 

 baked Jersey garden where the soil was almost pure 

 sand. We are told not to put strong manure close 

 to the roots, but from my experience 1 find the plants 

 do best in maiden loam without any manure at all." 



Green-fly is very troublesome, and inflicts more 

 damage than anything else. Plants outdoors are 

 not so ready a prey as those under glass. The best 

 way to destroy these is by fumigation, but if this is 

 not possible, dip them in a solution of soft soapy 

 water. A large collection can be kept quite clear 

 by fumigating at intervals. Prevention is certainly 

 better than cure. The 



Spittle-fly will also cripple Carnations, but this is 

 so easily detected that only carelessness on the part 



