44 GARDENING DIFFICULTIES SOLVED 



Twelve Good Perpetual Carnations 



Q. Can you give the names of 12 good varieties] Anxious, 

 Birm ingham. 



A. New sorts are being brought out ever)- year now. The follow- 

 ing are some of the best of those in commerce : Britannia, red ; 

 Enchantress, pink ; Afterglow, rosy-cerise ; Jessica, white with red 

 marking ; Mrs. Burnett, salmon-pink ; Hose Pink Enchantress, 

 rose-pink ; Winsor, silvery-pink ; Victory, scarlet ; White Perfec- 

 tion, a beautiful white ; Royal Purple, purple ; Mrs. Lawson, cerise- 

 pink ; Harlowarden, dark crimson ; Black Chief, dark crimson ; 

 Aurora, buff shade. 



Preparing Beds for Border Carnations 



Q. I am about to buy a collection of good varieties of Carnations. 

 How should I prepare the ground for them ? Nemo., Brighton. 



A . In order that this plant may bear up well in a hot, dry season, 

 the soil should be dug deeply. As your soil has only six inches of 

 good soil and thin clay below, we should advise you to have the 

 ground dug 18 inches deep, taking care that the clay is kept at the 

 bottom. A layer of manure should be put in the bottom and 

 another layer 6 or 8 inches below the surface. Having so trenched 

 the land you could then mark out the paths and put the soil on top 

 of beds. You must look out for wireworm, as this pest is very pre- 

 valent in old pastures. Give the soil a dressing of Vaporite or Kilogrub 

 as you plant. We think for this season we should keep the plants in 

 their pots during the winter, seeing that the soil is not ready- 

 When the soil is prepared in good time then we prefer to plant 

 out the rooted layers in October. A cold frame is a good place to 

 keep the plants, and they are not afraid of cold and some frost. 

 Keep the lights well tilted during wet weather ; in fact, the hardier 

 they are brought up the better. A little lime added to the soil when 

 trenching would be an advantage. Well rotted manure is best to 

 use. A dressing of well rotted manure to the surface after planting 

 is very helpful. 



Best Scarlet Border Carnation 



Q. Please say which is the best Scarlet Carnation. W. P., 

 Romford. 



A . The best Scarlet Carnation is Cardinal (Douglas). There is 

 another one of this name. Twelve good Carnations for amateurs : 

 Agnes Sorrel, Benbow, Charles Martel, Cardinal, Daffodil, Helen 



