52 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 
surface, various methods have been tried with more or less 
success. For my own part, I like to see a “ Malmaison” 
flower in its true and natural state; it should not look 
quite so formal in character as a border or tree Carnation. 
Where, however, it is desired to ensure uniformity, a very 
slim elastic band should be used; this is a neat and satis- 
factory method of gaining this end. The band should be 
placed on as soon as the bud approaches the bursting 
stage, for, if not done before the calyx bursts, little good 
will be served. When the flowering season is over, the 
plants should again be overhauled, and any that have not 
developed a good number of growths should be put aside 
for layering purposes, but the others may be repotted into 
g-inch pots for forming specimens in the following season. 
Watering.—So much depends on the careful use of 
the watering-can, that I cannot too effectively impress its 
importance upon those who have charge of a collection of 
these plants. It is well known amongst gardeners that 
the injudicious use of water, indispensable as this element 
is for all plant growth, is the cause of frequent deaths 
amongst plants cultivated in pots. I believe it to be true 
that improper watering is responsible for more failures than 
all other causes taken collectively. But what has to be 
stated is that Malmaison Carnations are unusually sensitive 
to the effects of over-watering, and they soon show, by a 
peculiar paleness in the foliage, if excessive moisture at the 
roots is causing the growth to become debilitated. This is 
more noticeable in winter, when the plants are in a semi- 
quiescent state ; at this period we water our plants but very 
rarely, and, on these infrequent occasions, it is carried out 
when the weather is so favourable that the excessive moisture 
