262 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



DALGF-TTY. 



doors. Many amateurs fail in cultivating the 

 Malmaisons successfully, but like all other plants 

 they need the right kind of treatment at the right 

 time. The plants can be propagated both by 

 cuttings and layers. If by cuttings, these may 

 be put in during the spring months whenever 

 they can be obtained. The growths nearest the 

 base of the stems can be layered, those higher 

 up the stems, which cannot readily be got down, 

 are taken off as cuttings. The cuttings form 

 roots in about three week's, and when they are 

 inured to the freer air of the greenhouse they 

 may be potted off singly into small flower-pots. 

 The layers are taken in June or July, before 

 they are ready on the border or show varieties. 

 As the plants are required to be in bloom as 

 early as possible, the sooner the cuttings or the 

 layers are struck the better. They should be 

 ready to be potted into their flowering pots in 

 September or October. They will do well in 

 32's — that is, 6in. flower-pots. Drain them well and repot very firmly, using good yellow 

 fibrous loam, with a fourth part decayed manure ; a little fibrous peat added is excellent to keep 

 the compost open, or leaf mould may be used. None of the Carnations will bear forcing in a 

 high temperature, and to grow the Malmaisons to a high degree of perfection they should be 

 kept in a dry atmosphere and a moderate minimum temperature of about 5odeg. during winter. 

 When the temperature is low and the atmosphere moist, the leaves may become infested with 

 spot, w hich disfigures them, and is injurious to the health of the plants. Of course the plants 

 will do well in an unheated house if the atmosphere is moderately dry in winter, and plants 

 grown in such a house will produce their flowers in succession to the earlier ones. The main 

 points in their culture is to get the plants near the roof glass. Keep them free from all insect 

 pests by fumigating, and from the disease to which Malmaisons are liable — that is, the " rust." 



If " rust " appears on the leaves, the best way is to cut off the diseased parts before the 

 fungus is fully developed. When the coffee- . , 



coloured spores have been distributed amongst 

 the plants serious mischief may be apprehended. 

 In its early stages this troublesome disease is 

 easily cured ; the fungus develops between the 

 membranes of the leaves, and ultimately bursts 

 out indiscriminately on the upper or under 

 surface, but the careful cultivator will remove 

 the affected leaves before this happens, and in 

 this way will soon get rid of the disease. 

 " Spot " is another disease affecting Carnations ; 

 its scientific name is Uredo dianthi, but it does 

 not seem to be infectious, and is only troublesome 

 in winter, and attacks certain varieties. The 

 plants will grow out of it in the spring ; if the 

 leaves are bad with it they may be cut off. It 

 may be well to append a list of the best varieties. 

 Show Carnations.— Bizarres— Scarlet : 



Admiral Curzon, Dr. 



Hogg, 



Duke of York, 



C AR NATIONS OF BEAUTIFUL FORMS. 



