CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS 105 



is not agreeable on the expanded blossoms. For ordinary 

 purposes not many varieties are required. The old blush 

 and pink forms are still indispensable, the white Nell Gwynne, 

 the blush changing to white, Thora, Nautilus, Prime Minister, 

 Lady Grimston, Maggie Hodgson, crimson, and Duchess 

 of Westminster, pink. 



Perpetual-Flowering Varieties. The temperature should 

 be 55 at night. Repot the young plants as they require 

 it, and gradually inure them to a cooler atmosphere. Pot 

 on, into 8-inch and 9-inch pots, plants which were cut 

 back in February for growing a second year. Shade newly 

 potted plants from bright sunshine, and spray them with 

 clear water each morning and afternoon. Never pot and 

 pinch a plant at the same time. 



MAY 



Border Carnations and Picotees. This is a busy 

 month, especially for those who are growing the flowers 

 for exhibition. It may be necessary to surface-dress the 

 soil in the flower-pots, to throw more vigour into the 

 Bizarres, Flakes, and Picotees. One of the oldest varieties, 

 Admiral Curzon, won the prize for the Premier bloom in 

 1909 at the exhibition of the National Carnation Society. 

 It is only by very careful cultivation that such old varieties 

 can be kept in vigour, and a surface dressing of equal parts 

 loam and decayed manure about the second week in May 

 is very helpful. The permanent sticks may now be placed 

 to the plants, and they may be tied with raffia, or neat wire 

 fastenings may be used ; these can be obtained from any 

 dealer in Carnations. In mild weather the plants must be 

 syringed daily to keep off green-fly and thrips. 



Malmaison Varieties. A succession of these may be 



