IV 



THE CARNATION IN POTS FOR 

 DECORATION 



CARNATIONS and Picotees are extensively cultivated in 

 pots for two purposes. The florist finds the plant in 

 many respects more conformable to the particular kind of 

 cultivation necessary to the production of exhibition 

 blooms when cultivated in pots, though, as already stated, 

 in the northern parts of the kingdom, culture in the 

 open garden is largely conducted in the case even of 

 these. Not so long ago only show Carnations and 

 Picotees were cultivated in this way ; but, during the past 

 few years, classes for selfs and fancies and for the novel 

 yellow-ground Picotees having been provided at exhibitions, 

 these also have been included among the florist's treasures 

 and catered for as pot plants. The other purpose for 

 which they are produced in pots is for conservatory 

 furnishing, and for the production of flowers for cutting 

 during the summer months, gardeners, as a rule, confining 

 themselves to a few reliable varieties, but occasionally a 

 varied collection is cultivated. The essentials as to 

 cultural routine in both cases are very much the same. 

 Propagation is almost wholly by means of layers, which 

 are generally " put down " in the pots in which the 

 plants are growing. Not infrequently as a result of the 

 close shading, to which the plants have been subjected on 

 account of the flowers, the shoots become etiolated, and 

 by no means of a satisfactory type. Withered foliage has 

 first of all to be cleared away, the growing points dusted 



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