THE CARNATION AND PICOTEE. 



257 



well known and is very simple. The lower leaves are removed from the side growths, a 

 notch is made through a joint, and the layer is pegged into some fine sandy soil, placed 

 round the plant for the purpose. 



AUGUST. — Continue to layer the Carnations, and also plant out the seedlings. 

 The work for this month is much the same as last. 



SEPTEMBER. — About the end of the month the layers, if well rooted, must be taken 

 from the parent plants, and as soon as possible afterwards they may be planted in the 

 beds or borders which should have been prepared for them. The plants intended to be 

 wintered in frames should be potted into small flower-pots, and it is as well to shade them 

 for a few days until they become established. 



OCTOBER. — Continue to remove the layers from the plants, and still plant out or 

 pot them up. The ground between the rows of seedlings ought to be hoed if necessary 

 to allow the rainfall to pass freely into the ground, and to keep it sweet. 



NOVEMBER and DECEMBER are both months when the Carnation grower may have 

 a period of rest from his labours. All the young plants, whether in flower-pots or planted out 

 in the open ground, will merely require looking over occasionally. Fallen leaves from 

 trees accumulate round the plants, are a shelter for slugs, and if not removed cause decay. 

 Those in flower-pots require careful attention to watering ; none should be applied unless the 

 plants really need it. Admit air freely to the frames, but shelter the plants from wet. 



The Carnation as a Greenhouse Flower. 



There are several sections of the Carnation cultivated as greenhouse plants: (1) The 

 border Carnation; (2) the Tree or perpetual-flowering Carnations; (3) the Malmaison 

 Carnation. 



1. THE BORDER CARNATION. — All the varieties that flower in summer— say in July and 

 August — out of doors are border Carnations, and these include self-coloured varieties. Fancies 

 are such as are striped on a yellow or white ground, Flakes and Bizarres, yellow and white 



A HOUSE OF CARNATIOSS BELONGING TO MR. MARTIN SMITH. 



