THE CARNATION AND PICOTEE 127 



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 

 likely to be injurious to them. Pot firmly is an established 

 axiom amongst Carnation growers, but this may be overdone. 

 I have seen it so at my own potting-bench. The best border 

 Carnations are the self-colours, and they are now to be had in 

 almost any shade. 



The following lists have been kindly compiled by Mr. John 

 Douglas, the well-known Carnation expert of Great Bookham, 

 Surrey. These varieties marked with an asterisk have re- 

 ceived awards of merit of the Royal Horticultural Society. 



Selfs- 



White Varieties : Trojan, Mrs. Kenwood, * Bookham White (new). 



Yellow : * Daffodil, Eros, and Solfaterre. 



Buff or Apricot : Mrs. G. A. Reynolds, * Elizabeth Shiffner, Benbow 

 (an old but good one), Golden Oriole, and Robert Bruce. 



Crimson : Agnes Sorrel, Basuto, Zulu, and * Hercules. 



Ruby-coloured : Lord Nelson and Ruby. 



Dark Rose and Pink : * Mrs. Robert Gordon, Mandalay, Lady Her- 

 moine) * Rosy Morn (extra fine), * Miss Willmott (coral red). 



Blush : Lady Roscoe, * Annie Laurie (extra fine), Innocence, Countess 

 of Paris. 



Red and Scarlet : * Cardinal, Brigadier, * Jean Douglas, Ibis, Prince 

 Charlie, Fuji jama. 



Heliotrope or Mauve : Greyhound, Ellen Douglas, Miss Ellis, * Duchess 

 of Wellington (very fine). 



Fancy Carnations. These have a lovely effect in the border. 

 Unlike the fancies of long ago, the present day representatives 

 are of robust constitution, stronger in many cases than the Clove 

 Carnation. Few other flowers afford such a range of colour ; 

 grounds of white, blush yellow, buff, heliotrope, and crimson ; 

 striped, mottled, splashed, and suffused, with every shade of 

 colour known to Carnations. It is impossible to enumerate 



