20 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



and exhibition purposes into six classes heavy and 

 light red-edged margins, heavy and light purple-edged, 

 and heavy and light rose- and scarlet-edged. The ground 

 colour of the petals is white, and the margin marked 

 with colour sometimes not broader than thin wire, and 

 in other varieties of varying degrees of width. The colour 

 should be marginal only ; any markings in the form of 

 spots or bars are defects. It is only in recent years that 

 the highest standard has been reached, and much of 

 the improvement has been the result of work under- 

 taken by amateurs. In the South, the late Mr. Norman 

 of Woolwich raised many beautiful varieties about forty 

 years ago. Mr. Simonite of Sheffield, and Mr. Bower of 

 Bradford, also did much to improve the quality of the white- 

 ground Picotees. These charming varieties of the Carnation 

 are held in high estimation by all tasteful persons. 



The Yellow-ground Picotees. It is only within recent 

 years that any great advance has been made in yellow- 

 ground Picotees. When they were first brought under 

 the care of the florist, they were thought to be of weakly 

 constitution. Hogg, writing in 1820, says: "The yellow 

 Picotee is at all times a difficult flower to grow well 

 in this country, on account of our moist atmosphere 

 and long winters." The Dutch florists have succeeded 

 with it. If placed in a damp situation and over-watered, 

 if it does not perish, it becomes unhealthy, and conse- 

 quently unable to carry its bloom. A true yellow-ground 

 Picotee has the same properties as the white-ground 

 Picotees. There are many good varieties, and others are 

 constantly being raised, as they are now in the hands of 

 many good cultivators. 



