THE NEW CARNATION-GROWING 163 



much due to its liability to disease as to the introduction 

 of varieties with finer flowers. But whether that be the 

 case or not the Carnation-lover who wishes to keep his 

 collection up to high-water mark, both as to quality of 

 bloom and vigour of plant, will have to hold himself 

 prepared to make sweeping changes of sort every few 

 years. Without this the best system of culture and the 

 most unremitting attention will not suffice to keep him 

 on an equality with up-to-date growers. The fact that 

 a few varieties of exceptional vigour last a good many 

 years does not affect the rule. There are such cases. 

 As Carnations go, Lady Hermione, which was chosen 

 by Queen Mary of Great Britain for her Coronation flower, 

 is an old variety, yet it is still a good salmon-pink. It 

 is interesting to note that this now famous sort has 

 Malmaison blood in its veins. Another example is 

 Trojan, a white sent out by the late Mr. Martin R. Smith 

 a good many years ago, but still able to hold its own 

 with the best of the whites. 



The following might be chosen by anyone who wants 

 to have a good modern collection of Carnations : 



Duchess of Wellington. Heliotrope. 



Firebrand. Scarlet. 



Queen of Spain. Salmon. 



Viscountess Ebrington. Buff. 



Diomedes Yellow with pink edge. 



Hermione and Trojan. Whites. 



Queen Alexandra. Yellow, shaded buff. 



Ben Ghazi. Crimson. 



Doreen. White, flecked with heliotrope, an early 

 bloomer. 



Sir Walter. Yellow ground Fancy. 



Lieutenant Shackleton. Yellow, flecked with rose. 



R. F. Felton, Pale pink. 



