64 BRITISH FLORAL DECORATION 



to obtain good flowers of these Carnations all side 

 buds have to be taken off, which accentuates the 

 roundness of the flower and the nakedness of the 

 stem, and I therefore strongly recommend all who 

 wish to get the best decorative effect out of Carna- 

 tions to judiciously arrange light flowers with 

 them. Their effect also is considerably enhanced 

 by using a few long pieces of pale Asparagus 

 plumosus or Sprengerii with them; there is, 

 however, nothing that goes better with them than 

 their own foliage, but long growths of this are 

 difficult to get without cutting your plant about 

 severely. 



Being well aware that this book will be read 

 by many who know as much about Perpetual- 

 flowering Carnations as I do, it is with some trepi- 

 dation that I append a list of the best varieties in 

 commerce, but I feel confident, owing to the great 

 care that has been taken in selection, both amateurs 

 and professionals, who adopt the list, will have 

 a thoroughly representative collection which will 

 not be out of date for many years to come. The 

 list is compiled, not only from notes which have 

 been taken for some years past at the various leading 

 Carnation Shows, but from observations and com- 

 parisons I have been able to make in the course 



