C ANN AS — CARNA TIONS 363 



The old (foliage) sorts may be left out late to ripen up the fleshy 

 root-stocks. Cut the tops off immediately after frost. The roots are 

 safe in the ground as long as it does not freeze. Dig, and dry or 

 "cure" for a few days, then winter them like potatoes in the cellar. 

 It is a common mistake to dig canna roots too early. 



The French sorts are commonl}^ thought to keep best if kept grow- 

 ing somewhat during the winter; but if managed right, they may be 

 carried over like the others. Immediately after frost, cut off the tops 

 next the ground. Cover the stumps with a little soil and leave the 

 roots in the ground till well ripened. Clean them after digging, and 

 cure or dry them for a week or more in the open air and sun, taking them 

 indoors at night. Then place them away from frost in a cool, dry 

 place. 



Carnations are now among the most popular florists' flowers; but 

 it is not generally known that they may be easily grown in the outdoor 

 garden. They are of two types, the outdoor or garden varieties, and 

 the indoor or forcing kinds. Normally, the carnation is a hardy peren- 

 nial, but the garden kinds, or marguerites, are usually treated as 

 annuals. The forcing kinds are flowered but once, new plants being 

 grown each year from cuttings. 



Marguerite carnations bloom the year the seed is sown, and with a 

 slight protection will bloom freely the second year. They make at- 

 tractive house plants if potted in the fall. The seeds of these carna- 

 tions should be sown in boxes in March and the young plants set out 

 as early as possible, pinching out the center of the plant to make them 

 branch freely. Give the same space as for garden pinks. 



The winter-flowering carnations have become prime favorites with 

 all flower lovers, and a collection of winter house-plants seems incom- 

 plete without them. 



Carnations grow readily from cuttings made of the suckers that 

 form around the base of the stem, the side shoots of the flowering 

 stem, or the main shoots before they show flower-buds. The cuttings 

 from the base make the best plants in most cases. These cuttings 

 may be taken from a plant at any time through the fall or winter, rooted 

 in sand and potted up, to be held in pots until the planting out time 

 in the spring, usually in April, or any time when the ground is ready to 



