THE NEW CARNATION-GROWING 165 



The true lover of Carnations will always try to grow 

 the plants in beds of their own, for they are entirely 

 distinctive in foliage as well as in flower, and never look 

 so well among other plants as they do by themselves. 

 Moreover, when given the dignity of special beds they are 

 established on a higher plane than when put in general 

 borders, and receive closer individual attention. There 

 can be a special preparation of the soil, a special planting 

 and special waterings. Heavy manuring had better be 

 eschewed. If the soil is \;ery stiff it is best lightened with 

 decayed turf chopped into pieces, and mortar rubbish, 

 not with manure. Basic slag and kainite may be worked 

 in during autumn at the rate of half a pound per square 

 yard, but if the beds have to be got ready in spring half 

 that quantity of bone meal would be better. 



Where a Garden Carnation seems quite happy, and 

 there is plenty of room, it is a good plan to layer the young 

 shoots into small mounds of gritty soil round the old 

 plant in August and leave them just as they are perma- 

 nently. Large, free-blooming clumps may be had in this 

 way, and with a minimum of trouble, but the plants 

 cannot be expected to yield prize blooms. 



