54 Select Carnations, Picotees, and Pinks. 
along the middle, with a path all round it, and 
staging round the sides. The central staging should 
be built in tiers if the roof is fairly high. Those 
who have no Carnation house lke either of the 
above should construct a temporary or permanent 
framework over the plants in the open so that 
tiffany or calico shading may be placed over the 
same, both to shade the flowers and break the force 
of rain. Wooden staging on which to stand the 
pots is an advantage under this form of protection. 
In calm and settled weather the awning may be 
taken off after sundown and not replaced till shading 
again becomes necessary. If this plan cannot be 
carried out in its entirety, the shading may be 
removed for a time after the sun loses its power 
well on in the afternoon, replacing it at night to guard 
against rain. Similar exposure for a short time in 
the morning will also assist in developing the proper 
colour of the flowers and in keeping the foliage 
healthy. ‘ 
Dressing for Exhibition—The art of dressing 
Carnations for exhibition has been practised close 
upon go years, at least, for Thomas Hogg relates 
that “ One Christopher Nunn, of Enfield, Middlesex, 
a noted florist in his day, was eminent for his: skill 
and dexterity in dressing Pinks and Carnations for 
prize exhibitions ; some will even tell you that Kit 
was the father of the art. Upon such occasions he 
had as many applications to dress flowers, as he had 
to dress wigs; for he was a barber and a friseur by 
trade, and withal a good natured, facetious, prating 
barber, and could both shave and lay a Carnation 
with the greatest nicety. The novices of that day, 
who, being unacquainted with his secret art, trusted 
to Dame Nature to open, expand and perfect their 
flowers, were-no- match for Nunez; for he began 
where she left off, and perfected what she had left 
imperfect. His arrangement and disposition of the 
petals were admirable, and astonished those novices. 
Kit’s art of dressing is still an enviable art attain- 
able only by a few.” 
Notwithstanding this fine eulogium on, and justi- 
fication of, the practice of dressing flowers, and the 
fact that it has been stoutly defended by enthusiastic 
and successful cultivators and writers of more recent 
times, a wordy war has been of frequent occurrence 
between them and journalistic writers, who are 
