THIRD WEEK IN JULY 



edges in crimson ; Pelegia, pink and lavender ; and Taillifer, 

 salmon-pink. 



Carnations need plenty of drainage, and they do best in 

 raised sunny positions in the garden ; for they will endure 

 great dryness much better than too much damp, and when 

 grown in pots they must have plenty of air, and very little 

 (if any) fire heat, except the Malmaisons, which are rather 

 more delicate, and will not stand frost. The water supply 

 of these carnations should not be left in careless hands, for 

 an overdose in winter may easily be fatal to them, and 

 they should always be kept rather dry than saturated. 

 Grown in a cold glass porch or greenhouse they are charm- 

 ing, and they will then produce their most perfect blooms, 

 flowering earlier than in the open ground, and escaping the 

 serious injury done to their blossoms by storms of rain. 



Layering is now beginning, for it is a mistake to^ leave it 

 until too late in the season, if strong young plants are desired 

 to be placed in their flowering quarters in October. The 

 plant to be operated upon is first surrounded (after loosening 

 the upper soil) with a small mound of fine, light soil ; the 

 new growths (without bloom) which naturally extend over 

 this are then selected, and the leaves on these are cut off for 

 about half the length of the stem. A notch half through 

 the joint which reaches the ground most easily is then made 

 with a penknife (cutting upwards from below), and the 

 layer is secured firmly into the fresh soil by means of wires 

 (like hairpins) sold for the purpose. Care is necessary to 

 avoid cutting the stem too deeply ; but if an accident should 

 occur, the cutting can still be utilised, placing it (with others) 

 near the edge of a 5-inch pot of light soil, sand, and charcoal 

 dust, and keeping it under a hand-light or in a frame, as 

 a certain amount of moisture and of shade are both needed 

 in this case. Carnation slips can also be rooted in the 

 border, if covered with glass, putting them into the soil to 

 the depth of 3 inches, and making them quite firm. The 

 glass should be removed in September, and the plants placed 

 in their flowering quarters in October. 



Carnations are excellent town plants, as they enjoy soot in 



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