234 



THE GARDENERS* MAGAZINE, 



March 23, I9i2. 



BORDER CARNATIONS- 



These popular garilen flowers still main- 

 tain the high position they have occupied for 

 ^o many years and in ^pite of many rivals 

 continue great favourites. The rapid de- 

 velopment which has taken place among 

 them savs much for the high esteem in 

 whi<-h thev are held hy the fiower-loving 

 public. The beautiful flowers, many of 

 wJiich are sweetly scented, are highly ap- 

 preciated for room decoration, for, when 

 afforded careful attention, they last for 

 some < on-iderahle time in a cut state. Al- 

 though not so continuously in flowering as 



improved, hut the locality cannot. Tho- 

 rough drainage is a mo.st important point, 

 for "there is nothing a carnation dislikes so 

 much as a moisture-retaining soil, and 

 many failures are due to sourness. In se- 

 lecting a piece of ground for planting 

 avoid, if possible, sheltered and confined 

 borders, choo;sing' in preference an open 

 position, where the plants will be fully ex- 

 posed to all the elements. 



When the question of where to plant has 

 been decided the ground should be well 

 dressed and deeply dug, and left lying m 

 a rough state until it is required f or plant- 

 m<y. If of a heavy nature, it is more bene- 



r 



r 



CARXATIOX JOHN RIDD. 



\ distinct and handsome faiiev variety, raised by Mr. James Douglas, 

 The blooms are of large size, and are freely marked with rose-red on a 



Great Bookham 

 vellow ground. 



and fine condition tlian it was in the earlier 

 digging. 



Ther 



0 



Raising: Seedlings. 



are two methods of raisins 



begonias or gei-aniums, the carnations pro- 

 vide an excellcut variety for bivldiuo; pur- 

 poses, and when massed in hi-paratc colours 

 beautiful effects are obtained. There .ut- 

 few plants that surpass these for town 

 gardens, for they will thrive in the most 

 smoke-laden atmosphere, while for seaside 

 cultivation thev are well suited. 



Soil Preparation. 



'Many failures with carnations are attri- 

 buted to the soil, yet almost any soil may 

 be made fit, if thoughtfully prepared. 

 There are more drawbacks in localities than 



ficial to dress with stable manure, while 

 for light soils cow manure is the best ; but 

 whicliev<M- is used it must be thoroughly 

 decayed. A <lressing of some approved soil 

 ili^infectant will prove of great assistance 

 if dug in with the manure, as it destroys 

 inany underground enemies. Shortly be- 

 fore planting a dressing of wood ashes and 

 soot, and, if obtainable, a liberal quantity 

 of fresh sea sand, will be beneficial. 

 Retentive soils should be dregsed more 

 freely with wood a^hes and sand than those 

 of a light nature. This dressing must be 

 thoroughly incorporated with tlie soil, and 



^ plantci, 



one by seed sowing and the other by layer- 

 ing. Seedlings are readily raised, and they 

 bloom freely in the year following the 

 sowing of the seed. It is an ex- 

 tremely interesting proceeding to raise 

 a batch of seedlings, but the cultiva- 

 tor must not expect to get many 

 flowers as fine as those of named varieties, 

 and there will also be a small percentage- 

 of singles. From the middle to the end 

 of March is a suitable time to sow 'the" 

 seeds, using pans or boxes which have been 

 previously filled with light soil, placing 

 them in a warm house 'with a temperature 

 of about 60 degrees, where the seeds will 

 quickly germinate. As^ soon as the seed- 

 lings are large enough tO' handle, trans- 

 plant into boxes filled with well-decayed 

 manure and sand in equal parts. When 

 established in the boxes, cold frame treat- 

 ment should be afforded, keeping the stock 

 fairly close until the plants become accus- 

 tomed to the change of temperature, after 

 which time they nxust be gradually har- 

 dened oflF until full exposure is safe. Under 

 this treatment s^plendid plants are obtained 

 for putting out into their flowering quar- 

 ters for the following season. 



Planting:. 



In many districts it is quite safe to plant 

 out the majority of the varieties which 

 have been propagated by layering, in the 

 early autumn, but the cultivator has to 

 take into <-onsideration those which are lees 

 robust than others. The yellow varieties, 

 and all those having flowers with yellow 

 predominating, are inclined to be rather 

 delicate, and these are much safer when 

 ])otted and wintered in frames. When for 

 any reason the planting cannot be done in 

 the autumn there should be no hesitation 

 in planting at this season, for, provided the 

 work is properly done, the results will be m 



every way satisfactory. . 



The end of Mart-h and early in April is 

 the most suitable time for spring plantuig, 

 providing the ground is in good workm? 

 condition. Assuming that the soil has beea 

 prepared beforehand, it is made firm ny 

 treading and raked level. If planted lu 

 rows, the distance between each row shouKl 

 be about twenty inches, allowing eishteett 

 inches from plant to plant. The 

 be made firm about the roots, and these 

 should be deep enough to prevent ^^he p^ant 

 from swaying abont with the winds. \V1^^« 

 bedded out for summer effect it i^^ a^^'^^r' ^ 

 to plant a little closer. For this, al:>oaj 

 fifteen inches space between the plants ^ui 

 be fonnd sufiicient. If the weather remaps 

 dry after planting is finished, a good water 



ing should be affo-rded. , 

 Regarding the planting of the seedung 

 these are put into tlieir permanent qu^^^ 

 ters as soon as they are large enough, ^^ ^^^'^ 

 is gen(Mally about the end of Julv. 

 space recoinmended for the layered p - 

 will suffice for seedlings. 



The soil mu^t 



mmer Manaerem 



h- 



in soils, for the latter can be altered and the top of the ground left in a more even 



CVmstant attention is required 

 out the growing season, to keep ^ 

 in a healthy condition. It is very oeu- 



cial to froqnrMtIv stir the ^"^'f ^^^^ ^ x^.^ 



^;oil witli a hor, and an <><^a«^^*^i^{ • 

 with soot is of great assistance. ^ This la^^^^^ 

 operation should be carried out in jne - 

 morning when tln^ <lcw is on the toUao _ 

 Carnations have many enemies, ^^^j. 

 cautions must be taken to P^"^.^'^^^^ ' 

 damage being done bv the vai'iou^ P j 



which atack them. The soot ^l^'^^f "^^Jber* 

 usually keep sparrows ofi", but where 



