210 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



flower on each plant; but such severe restriction, in the case of 

 the strong Selfs, is best left to thoroughly experienced growers, 

 who know what varieties it may be practised on, as if disbudding 

 is carried too far it is apt to lead to coarse, ugly flowers. Staking 

 and shading must have due attention in their season. 



Afatmaisons. These are not a suitable class for amateurs who 

 have only one house, as the plants do not take kindly to associa- 

 tion with a mixed collection of plants. They are generally propa- 

 gated by layers after they have flowered, and for this purpose are 

 planted out in frames. When rooted the young plants may be 

 placed singly in 4-inch pots, and grown through the summer in 

 a frame, or on a bed of ashes in a sheltered part of the garden. 

 In September they may be transferred to 6 or 7 inch pots, and 

 in October put in the house. They must be watered carefully 

 throughout the winter, kept as cool as possible, and given abund- 

 ance of air at every opportunity. Thus treated, they will flower 

 in late spring and summer. 



Tree or Perpetual Carnations. These are winter bloomers 

 with those who have a warm greenhouse, and consequently they 

 form a very valuable class. They are free-flowering, bright in 

 colour, and fragrant. They are propagated by cuttings, and it 

 is desirable to strike these in bottom heat in winter, because 

 then the young plants will flower the following winter. If 

 the cuttings are not struck before spring, and that without 

 bottom heat, they may not be strong enough to bloom before the 

 second winter. The cuttings should consist of side shoots, which 

 may be inserted round the side of a pot, and transferred singly 

 to 3-inch when rooted. From these they may be transplanted to 

 5 or 6 inch pots when the smaller ones are filled with roots. In 

 the spring they may have a frame, but they will be safe enough 

 out of doors in summer, if stood on a bed of ashes. Before 

 they are six inches high the top should be pinched out to cause 

 side shoots to form, and about the end of June they may be 



