24 CARNATIONS AND PINKS 



thick and stumpy, and these will produce double 

 blooms with probably far too many petals, which 

 will cause the calyx to burst before or as they are 

 expanding. Both of these will be worthless. The 

 bud which will produce the best shaped flower is 

 that of medium girth, long, and shaped like a Filbert. 

 This will be a double flower, with sufficient petals to 

 form a good bloom, and not too many. I may say 

 that careful watering will do much towards prevent- 

 ing the blooms bursting. 



By JAMES DOUGLAS 



The following information is the result of Mr. 

 Douglas's ripe experience : 



Many readers may well inquire, What is a border 

 Carnation ? Some are under the impression that only 

 self-coloured varieties can be thus described, though I 

 believe that most lovers of this beautiful flower prefer 

 the " selfs," as they are usually named in books and 

 catalogues, but this does not make them border Car- 

 nations to the exclusion of other types. Any Carnation 

 that will grow and flower freely in the open may be a 

 " border variety." In this respect I may be pardoned 

 if I draw a little on my early experience. I have to 

 go back to the year 1855, when I well remember the 

 flaked and bizarre Carnations being cultivated. I had 

 to do with planting and layering them in the gardens 

 of Lady Eleanor Balfour, grandmother of the Prime 

 Minister. This lady was devoted to Carnations and 

 Pinks, which were grown in the kitchen garden 



