THE GARDEN AT HOME 



days and waxing sunshine of the new year the buds, of 

 which there is never a dearth, will quickly turn to blossoms. 

 I find great pleasure in raising Perpetual flowering Carna- 

 tions from seed, but some of the blooms are single, and 

 only a few others are up to the form of the named varie- 

 ties. But one has compensation in extra vigorous and 

 extra floriferous plants, and in the delightful state of 

 suspense that arises from an ignorance of their qualities, 

 be they good or bad. 



After a turn round the garden where there is little 

 to show but leafless stems, wet soil, and rotting leaves, 

 how refreshing and how delightful to pass into a green- 

 house full of Carnation blossoms, long-stemmed, variously 

 coloured, and possibly fragrant ! Such an experience 

 keeps alive the love of home-grown flowers in the gar- 

 dener's heart, and reveals at once the possibilities of a 

 little greenhouse that is slightly heated and the charm 

 of tender flowers. 



There is very little to tell about their cultivation 

 little, at least, that presents any difficulty. The 

 seed is sown in February or March, and the seedlings 

 are subsequently transferred singly to small pots. The 

 compost used should consist of siftings from turfy soil, 

 with a sprinkling of sand and a little leaf soil added. 

 When nicely rooted in the small (3-inch) flower pots, the 

 plants should be repotted into those 5 inches wide. This 

 commonly takes place in June. It is as well to keep 

 them in the greenhouse for a week or two after the second 



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