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THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



Scarlet Bizarres. — Always first on the list and an attractive class. The colours 

 constituting a scarlet bizarre should be bright scarlet, with stripes of maroon and white 

 on each petal. 



Crimson Bizarres. — In this class the flowers are striped and flaked with bright 

 purplish crimson with a white ground. 



Pink and Purple Bizarres. — The colours in this class are pink, purple, and white. 



Purple Flakes. — The flowers in this instance are flaked or striped with purple 

 shades on a white ground, and the purer the white the greater the estimation in which 

 the variety is held. There must not be a break or blotch in the stripes. 



Scarlet Flakes. — Scarlet stripes on a white ground are the colours required in 

 this class. 



Eose Flakes. — An attractive class, petals with a white ground prettily striped with 

 delicate rosy pink shades. 



Seles. — When the flowers run into a single colour they are termed Selfs, and it is to 

 this section, as previously indicated, that the popular border carnations belong. In this 

 class again, varieties that are liable to burst their calyces ought to be discarded, as there 

 are plenty available that are not weak in this respect. 



Propagation. 



Carnations are increased by layers, cuttings, and seeds. The first-named method 

 from choice, as by this means, sturdy, bushy plants are obtained with few or no losses, 

 whereas many cuttings fail, and those that do root are slower in attaining a service- 

 able size. Seedlings cannot be depended upon to come true to name, many single 

 flowering varieties invariably resulting; but it is principally among seedlings that 

 novelties are found. 



Layering. — The practice with experts is to layer all the "grass " or young growths 

 possible from the middle of June to the second week in August. The earlier the layers 

 are rooted, detached from the parent plant, and either planted out or placed in small 

 pots, the stronger the plants become before the winter sets in. Especially is June layer- 

 ing to be commended in the case of border carnations, or those to be planted in August, 

 where they are to flower the following season. Planting out the old pot plants (show 

 carnations are usually flowered in 8 -inch pots under glass) into temporary beds of well- 

 prepared soil directly after flowering, simplifies the operation of layering, but many 

 growers do not resort to this practice. Instead of this, fully 1 inch of the surface soil in 



