270 WIKTER TREATMENT OF CAENATIONS AND PICOTEES. 



Each blossom is about two inches across. It is a noble flowering plant 

 for the conservatory, but caii be bloomed most successfully wlien of a 

 very small size. (Figured in Bot. Mag., 4537.) 



Sttlidium mucronifolium. Bristle-pointed. — Imported by 

 Messrs. Lucombe and Fince from the Swan River colony. A small 

 growing, but very pretty species. The flower stems rise about six or 

 eight inches above the foliage. The flowers are borne in terminal 

 panicles. Each blossom is about half an inch across, of a bright 

 yellow, witli zigzag lines of orange colour around the mouth. It is a 

 very neat, pretty species. (Figured in Bot. Mag.) 



ON THE WINTER TREATMENT OF CARNATIONS AND 



PICOTEES. 



BY A MIBLAND FLORIST. 



Many persons have experienced much difficulty in properly treating 

 these plants during what is termed their winter season ; some keeping 

 them too close and warm, others in having them in too wet a state. 

 Now the following is the practice of an old and most successful 

 grower, and I send the particulars, so that they may appear in the 

 November number of the Cabinet, and with a hope that they may be 

 of some service during the coming winter. I must, however, go back. 

 to the period of potting the layers. Having carefully removed the 

 layers, they may be potted, a pair together, in pint pots. Some florists 

 in their prescriptions recommend manure to be mixed with the soil for 

 potting at this season ; but as doctors difl^er, I also must beg leave to 

 give my veto against this practice. The mixture I winter mine in is 

 one-half road-scrapings, one-fourtli willow-dust, and one-fourtli turfy- 

 loam, broken and mixed up Avith the spade, but on no account riddled. 

 This is not too forcing, but will keep the layers in good health, it being 

 a great point in their after management not to have them of too gross 

 a habit during winter, Mhich the presence of manure in the soil would 

 have a tendency to promote. The drainage of the pots must also be 

 well attended to, and putting a small piece of moss over the potsherds 

 will prevent the soil from mixing with them and clogging up tlie 

 drainage. The pots containing the layers must be very slightly 

 watered (but not over the foliage), and sliould then be placed in a cold 

 frame for a few days, and the liglits closed and shaded, so that they 

 may strike fresh root, after Mhich they must be gradually exposed and 

 inured to tiie open air, and when convenient removed to any suitably 

 sheltered spot, taking care that a thick layer of coal-ashes, or boards, 

 are under the pots, to prevent the ingress of Avorms. 



As Carnations are by no means partial at tliis season to much wet, 

 many florists erect a temporary covering with the lights belonging to 

 their frames, and this answers the purpose very well. But the same 

 gentleman whom I have before alluded to, and who supplied the list 

 of tlie best twenty-four Carnations in the west of England, built a sort 

 of greenhouse, open at the sides and front, under which he had a stage 

 near the glass, on Avhich tlie pots were placed. In rough windy 



