February 10, 1912. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



115 



nations has been reached should realise that 

 the perfection which we have sought is not 

 vet with us. There is much to be done, 

 and good as present-day varieties are, there 

 is a need for far better. With all the new 

 varieties that the last few years have 

 brought us, we have not secured the per- 

 manent good that had been hoped for. 

 Varieties arise and quickly pass from cul- 

 tivation, leaving but a memory behind 

 them, and one has to record aeainst them 



PERPETUAL CARNATIONS. 



Those readers who hold the idea that the ^^^^^ 

 high-water mark in raising perpetiuil car- stem! 



this is an improving variety^ and habit and 

 stem are excellent. Mrs. C. W. Ward is 

 another free easy grower, with fine blos- 



ed 



Taking another standpoint, we consider 

 the ^laims of such ultra-vigorous varieties 



Afterglow, Pink Delight, 



as Rose Dore 



Mikado, etc. These I like very much, but 

 their great rambling stems make them ap- 

 pear somewhat luigainly in habit, and too 

 much time is expended by the plant making 

 these over-long stems. If one could re- 

 duce these varieties to the neat Lawson 

 habit, their value would be greatly en- 



hanced. 



weakness of stem, slowness of flower pro- May Dav is a 



00( 



oonstvtut 



weak point. 

 It looks as if 



raisers had 



ed too 



ted 



mode], q\iick in 



possessing erect stems, and it should be re- 



■ _ — 



ood 



SEAKALE AND ITS 



PROPAGATION. 



The dry and tryino- summer of 1911 must 

 have taug-ht many of us a le^^son. By having" 

 a l>ou n t i f u 1 s iipp 1 y of home -g ro w^ n sea ka le 

 crowns a crop is assured; when other choice 

 vegetablciS partly fail, jseakale has done re- 

 markably well hei>e, standing* the drought 

 with impunity, and it is now appreciated. 

 A little iorethought and preparation are re- 

 quired to secure success. All crowns should 

 be taken up by this date, so as to he in good 

 time to -prepare crowns for next season'.s forc- 

 ing. Immediately the crop i> lifted, the 

 "root thono^s" should l)e taken off, and cut 



^ - - - 



into seven-inch longfths, the crown end to bo 

 cut square, and the base diagonally. Tliis 

 method of cutting will pn'vcnt (-onfnsion as 



to which is tlu' gro\\!;itr lni:l : >\7.v tli;' tliongs 



[Photo: VV. J. Vasey. 



A ROADSIDE HEDGE OF THE EVERGREEN BOX (BUXUS SEMPERVIRENS)- 



."<h upon the inherent good qualities of 

 ' icnantress in the production of seedlings, 

 ' ^ these same seedlings have not gained in 

 ^'ua, or vigour, upon that famous variety 



nl-vt of many varieties is the 



nabihty of the stem to support the blos- 

 M ! *^rf^t' and I may name among others 



M . m-. T , . ^'^^^^^^ I^a^'"' Regal 

 KMn YP- Helen Gould, etc., 



ns '"^ -^t^"^ the heavy 



o..ns of these and other varieties being 



• can carry. Engel- 



f 'f'^H form, and exactly erwt and 

 • 'Kh smaller than some other no^eltis; 

 'uv k \" "Jject-lesson to those who 

 ■ Iv. ng a hobby, or a business, of rais- 

 '--/H'u varieties. 



Hl^''nl^!t^^/■ *^^^^^^««n type, are among 

 most satisfactory. Sangamo is onef 



ties. 



be 



the 



a spee<ly succession or blossoms means a 

 great difference in the profits of those who 

 grow^ for market. 



Fancy carnations are not greatly in de- 



mand, but there is no doubt that a few 

 really good " fancies, particularly white 

 and yellow groimdsj w^ould be welcomed by 

 private growers. One or two varieties, 

 with a distinct shade of orange, or bright 

 terra-cotta without anv secondary colour- 

 ing or markings, would be receive<l witli 

 favour by all carnation-lovers. 



Finally, I would uim^ tlu^ ]>rivate gi*<iW(M' 

 to watch his stock, just as keenly as the 

 trade growler. A closo study of the varie- 

 ties will repay for the trouble, as one can 

 then note all the poinls of the differing 

 forms. P. S. Hayward. 



in bundles, and stand the bundloc^ iijiriglit in 

 deep boxes, filling in around them with fine 

 soil. ]>ave the tops ex-po^ed, well w^ater in 

 to settle the soil, and place the boxes in a 

 frame or fruit house, exposed to the light. 

 In a few weeks the growing crowns will form, 

 when they must be gradually withdrawn to 

 cooler quarters to keep the growths sturdy, 

 previous to planting out in April. If treated 

 in this way a gain of two months' growth is 

 obtained over ordinary outside root ])1 ant- 

 ing, and this makes all the diflereuee to 

 the strength of the crowns when foreiiiof time 

 arrives. The plot intended for tlio "sots" 

 should ])e well prepared by trenchino- as earlv 

 as possible, incorporating farmyard manure, 

 leaf-soil, burnt gai-den refuse, etc., and leav- 

 ing the suKace rough. Previous to planting 

 well fork the plot over. br'Uging it to a 

 fine tilth, over which a broadcast sowing of 

 soot will be very beneficial. 



G. Ellwood. 



