What is a lair rental lor a given 



II nat is a lair rental tor a given mijr <"■ A 7? F» XT' M AT A P A 7 T V 17 

 properly 1 Ask the Readers' Service 1 Jtl Hi Vjr A It U hi i\ M A <J A Li I IN l'j 



February, 1 



90 9 

 it* 



LAST summer we determined, regardless of labor or cost, to 

 make our Garden Book for 1909 a New Kind of Catalogue 

 by incorporating clear, concise, down-to-date cultural notes 

 which would enable amateurs to grow their favorite flowers or 

 vegetables to perfection. 



With this end in view we secured the cooperation of a 

 number of the leading horticultural authorities, including: 



Mrs. H. Rutherfurd Ely, author of "A Woman's Hardy Garden," 

 etc.; Prof. L. H. Bailey, editor of "Encyclopedia of American Horti- 

 culture;" Mr. William Falconer, former editor of "Gardening;" 

 Mr. George W. Oliver, expert plantsman and writer; Mr. W. C. Egan, 



the eminent amateur; Mr. Eben E. Rexford, the well-known writer 

 on house plants; Mr. T. Greiner, author of "How to Make the Garden 

 Pay," etc., etc., besides the practical experience of our own corps of experts. 



The result is that Dreer's Garden Book for 1909, in addition to being the 

 most complete catalogue published, is now the most valuable guide to the growing 

 of vegetables, flowers, etc., that has ever been printed. Enlarged to 256 pages, 

 4 color and 4 duotone plates and hundreds of photographic illustrations. 



The one hundred and more Special Cultural Articles by the leading 

 horticulturists of America are invaluable to every amateur grower of flowers 

 and vegetables. 



It would cost at least $25 for the various horticultural books to cover the 

 information contained in " Dreer's Garden Book for 1909." 



But we will send a copy free to every one mentioning "The Garden Magazine." 

 Write to-day. 



HENRY A. DREER 



714 Chestnut St. Philadelphia 



The Best Carnations for the 

 Amateur 



A FIRST-CLASS carnation should com- 

 -*"*■ prise these important points : The flow- 

 er must be not less than three inches in diam- 

 eter, of good form, and well built up. By this 

 I mean the outer petals should reflex until 

 they are at right angles with the stem, 

 and the centre should be so high that the 

 flower forms a perfect semi-circle, with a 

 sufficient quantity of petals to have a "full" 

 appearance. The calyx must be strong 

 and not inclined to burst at a little extra heat 

 or a trifle overfeeding. The stems should be 

 not less than twenty inches, and rigid enough 

 to hold the flower erect, but with a little 

 suppleness to give a graceful arching. The 

 flower must have enough vitality to stand 

 shipping and to keep well after cutting. 



Bad cultivation will destroy any of the 

 good points in the best carnation, whether 

 it be size, stem, calyx, or keeping qualities, 

 and the one great evil to guard against is 

 too high a temperature. Carnations cannot 

 stand heat, and when grown at too high a 

 temperature the weak points in certain varie- 

 ties will quickly develop, size being usually 

 the first point to suffer, then stem and form. 



The bursting of the calyx and consequent 

 loss of form in flower is, in nearly all cases, 

 caused by too high a temperature; other 

 causes are too much water at the roots, in- 

 sufficient drainage, and a very sudden change 

 of temperature. The short-calyx varieties 

 (such as Mrs. G. Bradt) are, of course, 

 more inclined to burst than the long-calyx 

 type (such as Beacon). Stems can be con- 

 trolled to a marked degree. A temperature 

 of 45 degrees is best for stems, but the plants 

 don't flower freely at that point, so we must 

 raise the temperature a trifle; but above 

 55 degrees good stems cease. Another 

 cause of poor stems is insufficient nourish- 



Pick the flowers every morning, but do not cut 

 them off; plunge them into cool water and place: 

 in a cool, dark place for a few hours 



