50 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



The fibrous roots very soon reach the manure and the effect is 

 seen in healthy foliage and large well-developed flowers. 



The plants are obtained by layering in July and August. 

 The layering may be continued into September, but the 

 strongest and best plants are from layers late in July or early 

 in August. About the last week of September, or any time 

 during the month of October, they may be removed from the 

 parent plants, and planted out where they are to flower. 

 The Carnation gives the best results if planted in beds or 

 masses, so that an imposing group of one colour is ob- 

 tained if the garden is a large one ; small beds may be 

 made of white, crimson, yellow, scarlet, pink, &c. In small 

 gardens there may be room for one small bed only; in 

 that case mixed colours must be grown. The plants ought 

 to be about fifteen inches asunder, as a certain space is 

 necessary for layering. The plants may also be put out in 

 open places in the mixed border ; the layers may be thinned 

 out from these clumps, some good soil placed around those 

 that remain, and in this way a greater mass of blossoms may 

 'be obtained the following season. In some gardens, and in 

 certain districts unfavourable to the growth of the Carnation 

 out of doors in winter, it may be better to pot up the plants 

 in small flower-pots. The flower-pots are termed small, 

 medium, and large 6o's, i\ inches, 3 inches, and 3^ inches 

 inside measure. Two plants are placed in the large size and 

 single plants in the smaller sizes. They are potted firmly, and 

 a good compost is four parts fibrous loam, one part leaf- 

 mould, and one part decayed manure ; this material answers 

 admirably. The plants can be wintered in ordinary garden 

 frames. The lights may be kept rather close for a week or so, 

 but when fresh roots are formed they should be removed 

 whenever the weather is favourable, and during the winter 

 only give sufficient water to keep the potting soil from be- 

 coming dust dry. The best time to plant out the Carnations 

 in spring is about the end of March or early in April. 



Nearly all amateurs grow a goodly number of plants in 

 flower-pots. When this is the case they are repotted in 

 March, using a similar potting material. Two plants may be 

 put in an eight-inch flower-pot and three in a nine-inch. Drain 

 the pots well with potsherds. Some fibrous material ought 

 to be used to prevent the loose particles of soil from mixing 

 with the drainage. If the weather happens to be favourable 

 at the time of repotting, the plants may be put out at once 

 into the open garden. But if cold east winds are blowing, 

 they do better in frames until they become established. 

 At the same time they seldom suffer from cold, wet is more 



