Gardening for Amateurs 



489 



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Perpetual Flowering Carnations in mid-winter. 



Perpetual Flowering Carnations 



PROBABLY no flower has been so 

 much improved during recent years 

 as the Perpetual Flowering Carnation, 

 for new varieties are being produced 

 annually that quite eclipse those in culti- 

 vation a few years ago. As a plant for 

 the production of cut flowers in winter 

 the Perpetual Carnation stands unrivalled ; 

 this fact, together with its easy cultiva- 

 tion, has made it widely popular in a 

 short time, and has caused it to be grown 

 by all who appreciate beautiful flowers in 

 the dullest season of the year. It is an ideal 

 flower tor the amateur, and if he can devote 

 a small greenhouse to its cultivation it is 

 safe to predict that at a trifling cost he will 

 obtain more gratifying results from this 

 than from any other flower. It only needs 

 to be grown under glass from early Septem- 

 ber until May, thus leaving the greenhouse 



at liberty during the summer months for 

 any crop it may be desired to grow. The 

 Perpetual Carnation is truly named, as the 

 same plants will continue to bloom through- 

 out the year, and if they are well managed 

 good flowers will be produced during the 

 whole period. 



To have the best possible Per|Htual Car- 

 nations it is necessary to devote a suitable 

 ireenhouse to them, although, of course, 

 they may be grown in a small greenhouse as 

 part of a miscellaneous collection of plants. 

 The great difficulty then is to provide con- 

 ditions of atmosphere and temjHTature that 

 will suit them all. Carnations need light 

 and air, together with a cool, regular tem- 

 perature, and it is essential to provide 

 these conditions if their cultivation is to be 

 thoroughly successful. 



The best kind of greenhouse is a span- 



