72 CARNATIONS AND PINKS 



plants will bloom the following spring ; thus by 

 sowing seed in spring for flowers in autumn, sowing 

 seed in April or propagating by layers (border 

 varieties) in July and August for flowers the follow- 

 ing summer, and by sowing seed in autumn for 

 blooms for next spring, it is possible to have Car- 

 nation flowers almost or quite the whole year. 



Mr. A. Hemsley writes as follows of the Marguerite 

 Carnation : 



"This is a very distinct and useful class, but there 

 has been some misconception regarding its origin. 

 In the first place, it certainly appears to be more 

 related to the Indian Pinks (Dianthus chinensis) than 

 to our ordinary Carnations (Dianthus Caryophyllus). 

 This is only a detail, yet it is important to understand 

 that they are far better when treated as annuals ; 

 and by sowing seeds at various intervals a succession 

 of flowering plants may be had, if not wanted for 

 seed ; as soon as flowering is over, they may be 

 thrown away to make room for others; this is more 

 satisfactory than keeping the old plants over, or 

 trying to propagate from cuttings. Marguerite 

 Carnations have frequently been recommended for 

 cutting, and if cut before the flowers are fully ex- 

 panded they may last fairly well ; but as soon as the 

 anthers burst the flowers are fertilised and the petals 

 die off. I have found this when fertilising ordinary 

 border Carnations. If the flowers go off quickly, good 

 seed-pods may be expected. The variety Miss Joliffe 

 has always failed to seed with me, and in this the 

 flowers last much longer than with any that seed 



