The Canadian Horticulturist. 



237 



Xl;e harder) af)d I^d^jCQ. 



THE PICOTEE. 



!)/ P to the year 1850 carnations were among the most popular flowers 

 of the garden, but, since that time and until very recently, they 

 have given place to other flowers in obedience to the dictates of 

 fashion. Of late they are again being restored to their place, and 

 surely no flower is more worthy of a prominent place in our garden 

 than the various members of the pink family. 



There are three principal varieties of the genus Dianthus, viz. : 

 Carnations, Picotees and Pinks. The first two differ only in the marking of the 

 flowers, the petals of the carnations are either flecked or barred, while those of 

 the picotee (see F^ig. 57) have a ground color bordered with a second color, and 

 the variations in this latter are used to separate it into sub-varieties. They are 

 more beautiful than the carnations proper, especially when grown under glass 

 but they will succeed very well grown in the open air under similar treatment. 



The pink is smaller, more compact, 

 and more mottled than striped. It is 

 hardier than the others and is very 

 seldom injured in winter when left in 

 the open ground, but in sheltered 

 locations all will endure our winters. 

 The most suitable way of planting is 

 in beds, separate from other flowers. 

 The soil may be improved by the 

 addition of soot, and otherwise it should 

 be well enriched. The plants should 

 be set one foot apart and should 

 receive good cultivation. As the buds 

 develop, they may be treated with 

 liquid manure. If the buds are very 

 numerous, some may be pinched off, 

 in order that those remaining may be 

 finer. The young plants may be kept 

 up by making layers in midsummer. 

 Mr. Vick thus described the method. 

 " Tne layering is simply cutting a slit in a young shoot to ol)Struct the flow of 

 sap, and thus aid in the formation of roots. First cut half way through the 

 shoot, then make a slit lengthwise about an inch. Remove the earth a few 

 inches in depth and press down the branch, so that this slip will open, and then 

 cover with the soil. Roots will form where the cut was made, and thus new 

 plants will form which can be removed either in the autumn or spring." 



57. — TnK PicoTEt. 



