1 70 THE AMERICAN CARNATION AS A BEDDING PLANT 



he has his fads, but since he does not mind paying for 

 these, the grower is the gainer. There exist in England 

 fanciers of another kind of Carnation, a strain which has 

 been selected not for the habit of its growth, but rather 

 because of the form of the flower and the rounded petal — 

 the Border Carnations. But these will probably be ousted 

 by the American or Perpetual Carnation, because the latter 

 produces more flowers and may be bedded out later than 

 the so-cafled Border varieties and the American varieties 

 form good material to foflow early bulbs or Waflflowers. 

 Further, the Border strain of round petaled Carnations 

 only throws one crop of flowers a year, in July. 



The cardinal points to observe in the cultivation of the 

 American Perpetual Carnation for border work are, .firstly, 

 to secure suitable stock of the class indicated, and plant as 

 early as possible after risk of serious frosts is passed (in 

 England one may figure this as end of April; in Scotland in 

 May). Thus the plants are estabhshed before Summer 

 droughts — which sometimes come — can menace the well- 

 being of the plants. Naturally no good cultivator would 

 omit to dig his beds wefl and manure them according to 

 needs, before planting operations commence. 



"A stitch in time saves nine," so with reference to 

 tying it is far better to have all shoots well secured to ■ a 

 center stake at the time of planting. A distance of a foot 

 between the plants allows room for a small Dutch push hoe, 

 which is employed frequently to scarify the soil. The 

 value of this tool to induce the plants to root readily is very 

 considerable. 



Where the Border kinds are preferred, these can be 

 utilized very profitably. Their treatment from seed or 

 layers is discussed a few pages later, but the illustration on 

 the next page will help to emphasize the fact that excellent 



