370 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



impure air which makes the Rose so tantalising. We do not say 

 that, other things being equal, Carnations will not thrive better in 

 pure country air than in the atmosphere in or near a town ; but 

 knowing as we do how well town and suburban growers manage 

 them, and that some of the principal exhibitors for many years past, 

 and at the present day, have grown this popular plant in and near 

 towns, we have no hesitation in recommending suburbanists to give 

 special attention to it. Many amateur gardeners love to take up 

 one particular flower and concentrate attention on it. They find 

 that they get more pleasure and satisfaction from this than from 

 spreading their energies over a large number of kinds. To those 

 of this class who garden near towns the Carnation may be warmly 

 recommended. It responds to specialisation in a remarkable way, 

 yielding magnificent flowers. The collection may be grown either 

 in the garden or under glass, or partly under both conditions. 

 Exhibitors mostly make use of glass. The cultural hints and 

 selections of varieties given in the special chapter devoted to 

 Carnations apply to suburban as to other conditions of culture, 

 and we need, therefore, do no more in this section than draw the 

 attention of amateur gardeners to this splendid plant as one which 

 ought to suit their circumstances admirably. 



Auriculas in Suburban Gardens. As in the case of the Car- 

 nation, so in that of the Auricula, some of the most successful 

 growers and exhibitors have been town and suburban gardeners. 

 One of the finest collections of prize Auriculas which it was ever 

 our privilege to see was grown by a working cutler in the heart 

 of smoky Sheffield. The Auricula has none of the majesty of the 

 Rose, none of the fluttering grace of the Sweet Pea, none of the 

 massive beauty of the Chrysanthemum. It is a tiny plant, retiring 

 and modest. But it has a charm, a winsomeness, which appeal 

 powerfully to lovers of refined flowers. It is a dainty little floral 

 gem, pretty in form, pleasing in colour, and delightful in perfume. 

 Suburban not less than country gardeners who want to specialise 



