THE AMERICAN GARDEN. 



7 



PINKS, CARNATIONS, PICOTEES, AND PERPET- 

 UAL CARNATIONS, 



So many of our friends ask us for explana- 

 tions of the difference between the above, that 

 we have thought a description of the classes, 

 with a few notes on their cultivation and man- 

 agement, would be acceptable in "The Amer- 

 ican Garden. " The accompanying cut is so 

 admirably executed that it needs but little 

 explanation. 



The Pinks, figure 4, are perfectly hardy, 

 and need no protection in winter, of close 

 compact growth, with grassy narrow foliage, 

 flowering during May and June, flower stems 

 very numerous, grow " 

 ing from ten to fifteen 

 inches high, and, when 

 in bloom, are among 

 the most beautifu 

 flowers in the garden 

 The flowers are of va 

 rious shades of crim- 

 son, maroon and red, 1 

 mostly with white 

 grounds and white' 

 margins, a few have 

 purplish pink grounds, ' 

 and nearly black mark- 

 ings — and again there 

 are a few self-colored 

 flowers, white, pink, 

 and red. Pinks are 

 easily propagated, first 

 by "pipings" — short 

 shoots which are made 

 immediately after flow- 

 ering—these should be 

 pulled off with short 

 heels from the main 

 stem and inserted, 

 thickly together, in a 

 shady position, made 

 quite Jinn, and well 

 watered as required. 

 In three weeks they 

 will be rooted, in 

 which state they may 

 remain until a showery 

 time, when they can 

 be planted where they 

 are to remain for 

 blooming. Anot her 

 way is to dig up the 

 plants as soon as the 

 blooming is over, and , 

 tear them into several | 

 pieces with a portion 

 of the old stems and 

 roots attached, re-plant 

 immediately, make 

 firm ; shade for a few 

 days, and with one or 

 two good waterings 

 they will take root and 

 become fine plants in a short time. 



Carnations, florist's varieties, are divided in- 

 to five classes : 1st, scarlet flakes, with irregu- 

 lar bars of scarlet, figure 1 ; I'd, rose flakes 

 with bars of rosy shades on white grounds ; 

 3d, purple flakes with purple bars ; 4th, bi- 

 zarres with scarlet, purple and white bars, and 

 any three or more colors in the same flower, 

 and 5th, selfs. 



They are stronger in growth than Pinks, 

 nearly or quite as hardy, flowering in July and 

 August with not so many stems, but their finer 

 flowers make them equally valuable. They 



are easily propagated by layers, immediately 

 after flowering. This is done by partially 

 cutting through the stem on the under side, so 

 as to form a tongue-like piece three-quarters 

 to one inch long, making the cut from the 

 stem, not towards it. To induce the easy for- 

 mation of roots, a small piece of stick, or splint, 

 should be placed in the cut to keep it open. 

 Then peg the shoots down firmly, and cover 

 with fresh soil to the depth of an inch and a 

 half or more ; give occasional waterings, and 

 in about six weeks the layers can be cut from 

 the main stem and re-planted where required. 

 Picotees, figure 2, are flowers with solid 



than any of the preceding, although of more 

 modern introduction, and are, by many, erro- 

 neously called Pinks. They are of more ex- 

 citable growth, forming more or less woody, 

 tree-like stems, blooming more or less contin- 

 uously, generally not so hardy, flowers not so 

 regular in shape, as a rule, running through 

 more shades of color, especially amongst shades 

 of red, rose and pink. There are, also, numer- 

 ous forms of white, yellow, crimson and self- 

 colors, the latter being more sought after; 

 many varieties have fringed edges ( this, in a 

 florist's Carnation, Picotee or Pink, is a serious 

 fault and not admissible.; They propagate 

 readily from cuttings. 

 Strong plants put out 

 at end of April will 

 commence flowering 

 by August, and con- 

 tinue all winter, if fitt- 

 ed before frost and 

 kept in a temperature 

 of not more than fifty- 

 five degrees. 



The whole family 

 delight in sunshine, 

 rich soil and a moder- 

 ately dry atmosphere. 

 They are one of the 

 earliest classes of plants 

 improved by florists 

 and to-day are more 

 popular than ever, 

 who is there that does 

 not love them with 

 their exquisite forms, 

 chaste colors and de- 

 licious perfumes? 



GROUP OF CARNATION, PICOTEE, PERPETUAL AND FLORISTS' PINKS 



grounds of either white or yellow, and are di- feel more at home in such rustic receptacles. 



RUSTIC WORK. 



Rustic ornaments, 

 appropriate to the ex- 

 tent of the grounds, 

 add much to the em- 

 bellishment of the gar- 

 den and lawn. Many 

 climbing and trailing 

 plants cannot be shown 

 to better advantage 

 than on a rustic arbor 

 or trellis, and for the 

 most favorable display 

 of "Basket Plants" 

 nothiug is better 

 adapted than tubs or 

 tables made of rough 

 bark and roots. Hang- 

 ing baskets, window 

 boxes, brackets, and an 

 endless variety of arti- 

 cles suitable for win- 

 dow and house plants, 

 can easily and cheaply 

 be made. Most plants 



vided into six classes, all having narrow edges 

 of decided colors : 1 and 2 heavy aud light 

 edges of rose and scarlet on white grounds ; 

 3 and 4 heavy and light edges of purple, and 

 maroon on white grounds ; and 5 and fi heavy 

 and light edges of purple, scarlet and red on 

 yellow ground. They are always chaste and 

 beautiful, and of the same habit and hardiness 

 as Carnations, requiring the same treatment 

 and mode of propagation. 



Perpetual Flowering, or Tree Carnations, 

 figure 3. These are, perhaps, better known 



and thrive better than in glazed and ornament- 

 ed pots. Winter is a favorable, time to pro- 

 cure the necessary material from woods and 

 swamps. Any one possessed of natural taste 

 and some mechanical skill, can during winter 

 construct many ornaments of this kind, enjoy- 

 ing the work as much almost as the cultivation 

 of the flower beds during summer. Profes- 

 sional carpenters are seldom good hands at 

 this kind of work ; they square and plane your 

 choicest rough and crooked roots and branches 

 until all then- beauty is gone. 



