March Sowing and Planting 



Planting Border Carnations. Amateurs generally 

 do not seem to get full satisfaction from their Border 

 Carnations, but the fault is their own ; one, or perhaps 

 two, flower stems usually represent the harvest of bloom 

 from a single plant. Yet this is by no means its full 

 productive capacity. Among the chief causes of failure 

 are late planting and putting out layers that are in- 

 sufficiently rooted. It is hopeless to expect a satisfac- 

 tory display from Carnations put out now unless they 

 are in pots ; layers detached from the [parent plant at 

 this season, and forthwith planted, are not likely to 

 bloom well ; the root disturbance is so considerable that 

 they have not time fully to recover before the flower 

 stems are due. Plants put out from pots need be dis- 

 turbed scarcely at all, it is necessary merely to remove 

 the crocks and to disentangle the roots slightly with a 

 pointed stick. Needless to say, the border should be 

 well prepared before the Carnations are planted. If the 

 soil is ordinarily good a scattering of bonemeal at the 

 rate of a handful to the square yard will provide all the 

 fertiliser that is necessary until the flower spikes show, 

 when diluted liquid manure will prove beneficial. Some 

 really first-class varieties are Mrs. Robert Gordon, pink ; 

 Elizabeth Shiffner, buff; Amy Robsart, white; Rony 

 Buchanan, rose and terra-cotta; Agnes Sorrel, dark 

 crimson ; Brigadier, scarlet ; Ellen Douglas, grey ; and 

 Border Yellow, yellow. 



Violas or Tufted 'Pansies are charming flowers, and 

 none can afford to dispense with them ; if the faded 

 flowers are picked off, the plants continue to bloom 

 throughout the summer. They are useful for planting 

 among Roses, in groups in the mixed flower border, or 

 as a ground-covering or margin to Rose beds. Cuttings 

 inserted in boxes or in a frame last September have 

 formed well-rooted plants by now, and may be put out 

 of doors towards the end of this month. There are 

 numerous varieties, of colours to suit all tastes, and many 



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