52 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



surface, various methods have been tried with more or less 

 success. For my own part, I like to see a " Malmaison " 

 flower in its true and natural state ; it should not look 

 quite so formal in character as a border or tree Carnation. 

 Where, however, it is desired to ensure uniformity, a very 

 slim elastic band should be used ; this is a neat and satis- 

 factory method of gaining this end. The band should be 

 placed on as soon as the bud approaches the bursting 

 stage, for, if not done before the calyx bursts, little good 

 will be served. When the flowering season is over, the 

 plants should again be overhauled, and any that have not 

 developed a good number of growths should be put aside 

 for layering purposes, but the others may be repotted into 

 9-inch pots for forming specimens in the following season. 



Watering. So much depends on the careful use of 

 the watering-can, that I cannot too effectively impress its 

 importance upon those who have charge of a collection of 

 these plants. It is well known amongst gardeners that 

 the injudicious use of water, indispensable as this element 

 is for all plant growth, is the cause of frequent deaths 

 amongst plants cultivated in pots. I believe it to be true 

 that improper watering is responsible for more failures than 

 all other causes taken collectively. But what has to be 

 stated is that Malmaison Carnations are unusually sensitive 

 to the effects of over-watering, and they soon show, by a 

 peculiar paleness in the foliage, if excessive moisture at the 

 roots is causing the growth to become debilitated. This is 

 more noticeable in winter, when the plants are in a semi- 

 quiescent state ; at this period we water our plants but very 

 rarely, and, on these infrequent occasions, it is carried out 

 when the weather is so favourable that the excessive moisture 



