THE CARNATION AND PICOTEE 



THE Carnation is certainly one of the most beautiful flowers 

 of the garden. For three centuries at least it has been 

 pre-eminent in English gardens, and is cultivated by all 

 classes. The cottagers grow it in their small front gardens ; 

 the occupants of villas, now so numerous near every large 

 town, make a speciality of the Carnation, for it will thrive 

 and produce its handsome flowers under the smoky condi- 

 tions that usually prevail. A gentleman of some eminence in 

 London, and who lives within three or four miles of the Bank 

 of England, had made up his mind to leave his residence and 

 go farther into the country, as he could not grow Roses and 

 other flowers he loved. He tried Carnations, which were a 

 great success, and he then decided to remain in the old home. 

 There is no sense in making comparisons favourable or un- 

 favourable between Carnations and other flowers of the garden; 

 all flowers have their admirers. They do not all flower at the 

 same time, but some can be obtained at all seasons by skilful 

 culture, others cannot. Amongst those amenable to forcing 

 and flowering at every season of the year is the Carnation. 



I twill be my duty to give as full an account as possible of 

 the Carnation and Picotee in every class, those beloved of the 

 " florist " as well as the even more popular garden varieties. 



The Carnation in its wild state is the Dianthus Caryophillus 

 of the botanist, and is found generally on the walls of old 

 castles, &c. It did grow at one time, and may now, on the 

 walls of Rochester Castle. This may give us some inkling 

 of the conditions under which the plant may be cultivated 

 in our gardens. Certainly the supply of food to be obtained 

 on the walls of an old castle cannot be rich ; but it is well 

 known that such plants are free from the diseases that afflict 

 the tufts nursed on rich loam, and stimulated with artificial 

 manures. 



Border Carnations. This is somewhat a vague term, as 

 almost every class or section of the Carnation is adapted for 

 culture in the garden, and it is merely a matter of the taste of 

 the owner of the garden as to the varieties that are preferred. 



