Ill 



THE CARNATION AS A GARDEN PLANT 



ALL kinds of Carnations and Picotees are amenable to 

 garden cultivation ; even the Souvenir de la Malmaison 

 existing for years in the open air in quite cold districts. 

 In the north of England, and in Scotland, it has long 

 been the practice to cultivate even the more refined forms, 

 such as Flakes, Bizarres, and Picotees, in the open garden 

 for exhibition purposes ; but in treating of the Carnation 

 as a garden plant, I shall keep in mind more particu- 

 larly its value as a garden flower. Broadly, there are 

 two courses open, either to cultivate solely in the 

 open, or to preserve plants under glass protection 

 during winter and to plant in spring. Of the two 

 the former yields much the better results, the vigour of 

 the plant being enhanced and its floriferousness vastly 

 increased. But it is essential that layers (v. Chapter X.) be 

 put down at the earliest moment, the middle of July 

 being quite late enough, so that nicely rooted plants may 

 be ready for planting any time from the end of August 

 till the middle of September. These rapidly become 

 established at root, and though little top-growth follows, 

 which, indeed, is not wanted, a Carnation that is over- 

 taken by winter having a firm grip of the soil is proof 

 against upheaval by frost and is little affected by the 

 cutting winds of March. Following that, the plant is in 

 a position to respond at once to the revivifying influences 

 of genial weather, and at every joint young shoots are 



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