CHAPTER II 



TYPES OF BORDER CARNATIONS 

 BY JAMES DOUGLAS, V.M.H. 



THE wild Carnation (Dianthus Caryophyllus) is a hardy 

 plant in Great Britain. It has a slender, spreading growth, 

 and clings to old buildings, where it has a perennial exist- 

 ence, with no other sustenance than may be obtained from 

 mouldering bricks, stones, and mortar, besides the small 

 portion of humus which arises from decaying vegetable 

 matter. This wilding was taken from the crannies where 

 it had made its home, and it has been cultivated in rich 

 garden soil for centuries. The altered circumstances have 

 caused the plants to produce double flowers, and they 

 have excited variations which have led to the production 

 of the rich and varied colours now so characteristic of 

 this flower. In order to obtain very large flowers, Carna- 

 tions are planted in rich soil in the autumn or early spring 

 months, and later in the season the roots are afforded 

 surface-dressings of a still richer compost, with the result 

 that over-feeding predisposes the plants to diseases of 

 various kinds, which are not easily eradicated when once 

 they have obtained a footing. 



Before proceeding to give full cultural details for border 

 Carnations, it may be as well to define the various classes 

 or sections into which border Carnations and Picotees are 



