CARNATIONS, PICOTEES, AND PINKS 73 



painted green. The flowers will stand in two rows of 

 three each from back to front. A stand of this size will 

 accommodate the largest flowers. Two such stands may 

 be placed side by side to show twelve flowers. If several 

 stands are to be taken to a show, a case fitted with ledges 

 ought to be made for them. Cases, stands, and tubes 

 can all be bought ready made from Carnation specialists. 

 Round pieces of Bristol cardboard, about four inches 

 across (rather more for large fancy flowers) may be 

 procured, and a circle cut in the centre large enough to 

 envelop the calyx loosely (the calyx is the circle of green 

 segments just beneath the flower). A slit can be cut 

 from the circumference of the card to the central hole, 

 and by depressing one edge of this the stem can be 

 slipped through. The preparation of exhibiting neces- 

 saries betimes prevents any confusion when show day 

 arrives. Repot winter-blooming plants as required, and 

 stand them on ashes in a sunny, sheltered place. Attend 

 to watering and the suppression of insects. 



July. This is the flowering month, but the plants 

 will not be in full bloom until the latter part, in most 

 seasons. Continue tying, disbudding, and watering, 

 as needed. If some of the opening flowers threaten 

 to burst the calyx, slip an indiarubber band over it. 

 Note hints under June as to exhibiting stands and 

 collars. Before show flowers are finally put in the 

 stands, in readiness for the judges, exhibitors make a 

 practice of looking over them, and remedying any de- 

 fects with tweezers. Thus, narrow, curled, or deformed 

 florets in the centre of the flower are removed with a 

 pair of ivory tweezers, together with " run " petals 

 that is, petals in Bizarres or Flakes coloured all over 

 instead of barred on white, and Picotees with the colour 

 leaving the edge for the body of the petal. The flower 



