CHAPTER II 
TYPES OF BORDER CARNATIONS 
By JAMES DOUGLAS, V.M.H. 
THE wild Carnation (Dianthus Caryophyllus) is a hardy 
plant in Great Britain, It has a slender, spreading growth, 
and clings to old buildings, where it has a perennial exist- 
ence, with no other sustenance than may be obtained from 
mouldering bricks, stones, and mortar, besides the small 
portion of humus which arises from decaying vegetable 
matter. This wilding was taken from the crannies where 
it had made its home, and it has been cultivated in rich 
garden soil for centuries. The altered circumstances have 
caused the plants to produce double flowers, and they 
have excited variations which have led to the production 
of the rich and varied colours now so characteristic of 
this flower. In order to obtain very large flowers, Carna- 
tions are planted in rich soil in the autumn or early spring 
months, and later in the season the roots are afforded 
surface-dressings of a still richer compost, with the result 
that over-feeding predisposes the plants to diseases of 
various kinds, which are not easily eradicated when once 
they have obtained a footing. 
Before proceeding to give full cultural details for border 
Carnations, it may be as well to define the various classes 
or sections into which border Carnations and Picotees are 
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