March 23, 1912. 



THE GARDENERS* MAGAZINE. 



237 



PERPETUAL CARNATIONS 

 FOR PRIVATE GARDENS. 



It is astonishing how rapidly the per- 

 petual carnations are increasing in popu- 

 larity ; but their delicious perfume, diver- 

 sity of colour^ and durability when cut, are 

 characteristics that fully justify the favour 

 Trith which they are regarded. 



There are so many varieties at the com- 

 mand of the cultivator that in districts 

 where all the varieties do not succeed, it 

 is easy to replace those which fail with 

 others that will thrive. One of the most 

 pleasing varieties is, in my opinion, that 

 lovely pink flower, Mrs. Burnett. I always 

 feel sorry when I see a poor batch, for the 

 simple reason I have not been able to grow 

 it here, although, in other cases, I obtain 

 any revenge. Pink Delight is another beau- 

 tiful flower, but, like White Perfection, is 

 not easy to propagate or to grow to a high 

 <iegree of j^erfection. 

 ake a good plant. 



y hopes on Lady Northcliffe^ one of the 

 latest introductions. R. F. Felton pro- 

 ducer finely developed blooms, is attractive 

 in colour, and the plant has evidently a 



and not subiect to 



With nie it does not 

 I am now building 



good constitution, 

 disease. 



May Day^ Regina, 



subject 

 and Rex 



are 



excellent varieties, and quite worthy of a 

 place in select collections. Lady Allington 

 and Rival are of great merit, and will hold 

 their places for some time to come. Rose 

 Dore is a rare grower, but not free flower- 

 ing in winter ; the two older varieties, which 

 I consider have not yet been surpassed in 

 their i^spective colours — namely, blush pink 

 and scarlet — are Enchantress and Britannia. 

 The latter should always be grown under 

 glass. The newer Scarlet Glow is a pro- 

 mising variety, the flowers of good form, 

 and the colour very bright. White Enchan- 

 tress is a good variety in its colour group. 



All the above varieties are grown here, 

 but none of them can be compared in size 

 ■with Carola. In my previous notes I have 

 always spoken in favour of this variety. I 

 have a house of it now, simply grand. It is 

 a wonderful carnation, very free, with mag- 

 nificent blooms, as large as a Malmaison. 

 In many parts this variety appears to suffer 

 much from rust; it did here at first, but 

 with the usual care it soon became clean, 

 and since then not a spot has been seen. 

 This year our stock w^ill be increased from 

 five to seven hundred plants. 



One Or two of our leading horticulturists 

 have recently brought out a remedy, or 

 cure, for rust. In my opinion the prepara- 

 tion is good, but the directions for use are 

 not in accordance with my practice. In- 

 stead of using the preparation twice a "week, 

 as advised. I nsp i+. +wi^ u /In^r On no 



It must 



spray possible, one similar 

 to what the florist uses, which only leaves 

 a moisture like the moniing dew on the 

 tohage. If thi« spray is continued the rust 

 "ft^ii disappear, as it cannot thrive under 

 such treatment. 



I use it twice a day. 

 account must a svringe be used, 

 be the finest 



^ . Anyone who doubts the 



€niciency of this treatment need not 

 and see," but Come and see." 



and the grower repaid a 



Wait 

 The above 



variety must l)e grown under glass though- 

 «ut the season, and once the plants are 

 tree from the disease there will be no 

 further trouble 



■thousandfold. 



Mrs. Raphael is one of the largest of 

 ^tie perpetual earaations, more like a Mai- 

 n^aison, hut thrives well. Here it is a most 



flowed! ^""t Y^^^^' g^^^'^^' ^^^^ the 

 with n J% 1 J'/^'^^^^ing cherry-red colour, 

 Si^ 5 ^^^^g^^tf^^l fragrance. These beau^ 

 indli^^T^^^^^^^ 'Y^ becoming more and more 



C?Sf yf..^^,^ derations, and they 



can 



for even now, in the middle of March, it 

 is quite safe to dispense with fire heat, 

 which cannot be said about other flowers 

 suitable for decoration at this time of the 



year. 

 Portei^s' Park 



A. Grubb. 



Gardens. 



these flower-heads are stalked, and are not 

 so dense, that one might almost describe the 

 calliandra as a pigmy, bushy Sensitive 

 plant trying to look like a metrosideros. 



At maturity the calliandra is said to be- 

 come Gft. high, which is over large for the 

 average stove house, but there is no difli- 



thah 



CALLIANDRA TWEEDIEL 



One cannot well imagine many more 

 l>eautifiil plants than this Brazilian ever- 

 green shrub, wdien it has been well grown 

 and is in full flower. Here we have a low 



half that height. 



is 



culty in keeping the plants at less 



The species under notice 

 will thrive in a compost of medium loam 

 and leaf -mould, with the addition of a 

 sprinkHng of silver sand. If it is avail- 

 able of first-class quality, peat may be used 

 instead of loaf-mould, but poor quality 2^eat 



-A 



mi 



ARNATION" 



One of the finest of the perpetual varieties with scarlet flowers. ^ 



were shown by Mr. H. Burnett at a recent R.H.S. meeting. 



ITie blooms illustrated 



l)ush 



grown with but little artificial warmth, 



with miniature, mimosa-like leaves, 

 of a delicate green colour— an ornamental 

 plant even out of flower. But when, as now 

 is the case, the frail-looking branchlets bear 



glol>ose heads of bright red flowers, the 

 value of the shrub is greatly increased. The 

 individual beauty of the flowers lies in 

 their bunches of long stamen-filaments 

 which contrast so sharply with the pale 

 green leaves. At first sight the flowers are 

 so suggestive of those of the Australian 

 Bottle Brush (Metrosideros speciosus), only 



is always an unsatisfactory rooting medium. 

 Beings a native of Brazil stove house 



treatment 

 but while 



in an 



is necessary for the calliandra, 

 in flower the plants could be 



interme<liate temperature 



placed 



without any fear of injury, provided that 

 they are not over- watered. Cuttings of 

 young shoots which are becoming firm in 

 texture will usually root if firmly inserted 

 in light sandy soil, and placed under a bell- 

 glass where a moderate amount of bottom 

 heat is available. Cecil Avbwy. 



