CARNATION AS GARDEN PLANT 23 



Hitherto, these remarks have been confined to Carna- 

 tions cultivated by themselves for bloom, but as garden 

 flowers they are also no mean objects from a decorative 

 point of view, and the requirements of the present day 

 demand that a carpeting of some brighter material than 

 their own grass or foliage be provided. As a rule, Carna- 

 tions arranged in this way cannot be planted till late 

 spring, and it may be said, once for all, that weakly plants, 

 either constitutionally so, or those starved in too small 

 pots before planting-out, can never give satisfaction. 

 Whether in beds by themselves, or in borders of mixed 

 flowers, at least, twenty-five plants of a sort should be 

 employed, a greater number being, of course, preferable. 

 It will be found a great mistake to set the plants too 

 close together ; from eighteen inches to two feet apart 

 being not unsuitable distances. The varieties that con- 

 form to this style are necessarily limited in number, 

 first because we must have effective colours, and also 

 because the plants must possess as nearly as may be a stiff 

 upright habit of growth, while being at the same time 

 abundantly floriferous. A new variety, however pro- 

 mising it may be, should not, therefore, until proved, be 

 employed for decorative effects. 



The plants commonly used as a carpet to Carnations 

 are various kinds of Violas. Personally, I dislike these 

 for this purpose, because they are never quite satisfac- 

 tory, and so dispense with them altogether. Moreover, 

 the list of suitable plants is so large that there is no 

 excuse for employing any but the very best. Verbenas in 

 purple, white, and scarlet, and the lovely pink variety, 

 Ellen Willmott, cannot, perhaps, be surpassed for the 

 purpose in view, each plant carpeting a large surface. 

 The flowers remain bright until the end of the season, 

 and the colours go well with Carnations. Verbena 

 venosa and the old F. Metindres splendent are also suit- 

 able. Another charming plant will be found in Cuphea 



