206 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



but some growers prefer to let them take their chance in the 

 open ground. The Carnation is hardy, but damp often kills 



plants out of doors, especially in wet, 

 heavy soils. Pinks are propagated 

 by means of young shoots pulled out 

 of their sockets. 



Planting. The Carnations may be 

 put into the beds or borders from 

 the end of March to June, but April 

 is about the best planting month. If 

 the soil is very poor it ought to be 



LAYERING CARNATIONS dug tWO Spades deep, and enriched 



A, old plant; B, young layer; c shows the w jth decayed manure. If stiff and 



cut made with a sharp knife, lip of stem 



kept open with smaii pebble; D, special lumpy it should be lightened with 



compost ; E, border soil. 11-1 T-I 



road grit, or mortar rubbish. The 



plants may be put eighteen inches apart, and pressed firmly into 

 the ground. They will not require stakes 

 in themselves, because the growth is 

 bushy and low, but the flower stems 

 will need support, and it will be wise 

 to get the special stakes which exhibition 

 growers use, such as Sydenham's or 

 Porter's. They are not expensive, and 

 while adequately supporting the stem 

 they allow it to extend freely. 



Disbudding. Growers who want a 

 large number of flowers will not disbud 

 to any great extent, if at all ; but those 



Who grOW for exhibition Will find it A, rooted layer lifted ready for potting or 



planting in border ; B shows where 



absolutely necessary to thin the buds 



severely. They will be found to come 



in clusters, and these are reduced to the central or crown bud, 



which develops into a large, symmetrical flower. The splitting of 



PLANTING AND SUPPORTING 



to place the tying material beneath a 

 joint C, when staking is done. 



