20 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



and require more care to take them through the winter. 

 The finer kinds should be potted in the autumn, and kept 

 in a frame or airy greenhouse until the spring, when they 

 may be planted out, or flowered in pots, at discretion. For 

 the general potting-up of rooted layers, the favourite date 

 with growers in London, and as far north .as the Trent, is 

 October 20th ; beyond Trent, an earlier date is required. If 

 potted too early, they make more growth than is desirable 

 before winter ; but if too late, the winter cripples them. 



It has been urged, and it may be again urged, that 

 carnations are most useful flowers for town gardens. The 

 same cannot be said of picotees, and, therefore, the town 

 amateur may be advised not to speculate in picotees until 

 he has acquired some experience with their more hardy 

 relatives. 



