April 6, 1912. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



277 



PERPETUAL CARNATIONS AS 



BEDDING PLANTS. 



The following is the t-ext of an address 

 given by Mr. E. F. Hawes at the Coufer- 

 ^nce on Perpetual Flowering Carnations 

 held at the Royal Horticultural Hall, S.W., 



on March 21 : — 



Prior to the formation of the AVmter 

 Flowering Carnation Society, now the Per- 

 j^t u al F 1 o wer i n g C a r n a t io n S-oc ie ty , had 

 one contemplated holding a special exhibi- 

 tion of tree or perpetual carnations, such a 

 display would have been considered impos- 

 sible, Yet, in leasi than -a de^cade, this 

 society has become well established, and its 

 ultimate position assured. 



At first grown only for winter flowering, 

 and in a few gardens, the decorative value 

 of the plant, witli its long-stemmed flowers, 

 lasting quality when cut, and rich colour- 

 ing even in mid-winter, soon brought it into 

 public favour, with, the result that its 

 cultivation in this country was quickly 

 undertaken on a large scale for market pur- 

 {>ose-s. Up to this period the principal varie- 

 ties, which were limited in number, had 

 been rais-ed in the United States, where the 

 culture had already become established, but 

 with its increasing popularity growers 

 turned their attention to raising new varie- 

 ties. The first British-raised seedling Bri- 

 tannia (scarlet) was certificated by our 

 society in 1907, and wasi quickly followed by 

 Mrs. H. Burnett (salmon-pink) in the same 

 year. Since that date the number of new 

 varieties raised in this country has largely 

 increased, and several new and distinct 

 shades of colour have been obtained. 



It has also been proved by more extensive 

 cultivation that the present race of carna- 

 tions thrives better in a much lower tem- 

 perature than had been previously given the 

 older tree varieties. 



Having obtained some of the first plants 

 of Britannia that were exhibited, I raised a 

 good stock, and planted them out in May, 

 1909, on a border sheltered slightly from the 

 north-east, and facing due west. The sub- 

 soil was London clay, which i^ always very 

 damp and cold during the winter and early 

 spring months. After blooming throughout 

 the entire summer, about thirty-six plants 

 were left in the open ground during the 

 winter in order to ascertain their hardiness. 

 The lowest temperature recorded during the 

 winter of 1909-10 was 15 deg. Fahrenheit, 

 showing 17 degrees of frost. The last bloonii^ 

 opened at a minimum temperature of 22.5 

 Fall., and the plants then became dormant. 

 The great majority of them passed through 

 the winter uninjured, and commenced bloom- 

 ing again the following May, and continued 

 until December. The cold winds experi- 

 enced in April, 1910, killed the softer growth 

 of a few plants, but on being cut back they 

 rapidly made new growth, and flowered 

 freely through summer and autumn, not a 

 single plant being killed. These experi- 

 ments have been continued and extended, 

 and several gentlemen liave had plants of 

 many varieties growing in the open garden 

 during the past winter, when the tempera- 

 ture fell below zero, and these have syf- 

 fered no apparent injury, and in eome the 

 ouds are even now showing colour. 



Having tliun established the hardy con- 

 stitution of the perpetual flowering carna- 

 tion, the chief object in this direction has 

 been attained, but further series of trials 

 will be continued. 



We desire now to compare this type of car- 

 nation with the various 



owing to the low temperature usually ex- 

 perienced in December; (2) young plants well 

 established in small pots, and liaving from 

 three to five strong shoots, which commence 

 to bloom within a month or six weeks after 

 planting, and continue as above. In either 

 case they should be planted out in May, in 

 an open position, in either bed or border, 

 where the soil has been previously well pre- 

 pared for their reception by thorough dig- 

 ging and liberal manuring. 



The plants should be properly staked at 

 the time of planting, in order to secure them 

 from damage by wind. No stopping, except 

 by the removal of dead blooms, or the cutting 

 of fully-developed flowers, both with long 

 stems, h required. Water carefully, and 

 keep the surface soil of bed stirred at in- 

 tervals. Occasional spraying with a reliable 

 insecticide will prevent serious attack from 

 insect peste, and the plants will well repay 



the time involved. 



To those who have not already tried these 

 charming plants for the open garden, I 

 would certainly say do so, aa they are tho- 

 roughly deserving of attention. 



. sum me r bedding 



plant^> of the present day. Carnations, like 

 roses, are always welcome, and a bed or 

 border of these favourite flowers in continu- 

 ous bloom from May to December will cer- 

 tainly prove a valuable acquisition to any 

 garden. Two types of plants may be u.-ed 

 tor this purpose, i.e., (1) those well estab- 

 lished and leaving several flower buds well 

 aeveloped, which, on planting, will flower 

 at once and continue to give a display of 

 l^^m, until the plants become dormant quickly form roots. 



THE ANDROSACES. 



This beautiful and interesting group of 

 plants contains some of the choicest and 

 rarest gems for the rock garden. As they 

 are natives of high mountainous regions, 

 the androsaces revel in a dry atmosphere, 

 however oold it is during the winter ; hence 

 the difficulty experienced in this country 

 in keeping them in a healthy condition 

 through w^et and damp weather. This diffi- 

 culty is to be overcome by carefully select- 

 ing suitable spots, and protecting tlie plants 

 from excessive moisture during the late 

 autumn and winter months. The majority 

 of the species delight in sunny positions, 

 but there are a few which thrive best when 

 planted in half -shady situations. Sloping 

 crevices between the rocks are the most 

 suitable places for them, as tlie water 

 drains off quickly, and does not remain 

 round the crowns or rosettes, as it other- 

 wise would do if the plants are grown on 

 flat spaces. In many cases the foliage forms 

 w^ooUy rosettes, which naturally hold any 

 superfluous moisture there may be about ; 

 this proves most injurious, and often fatal. 



With the exception of A. carnea, A. Lag- 

 o-eri, and A. Vitaliana, the soil slioiUd con- 

 sist of sandy loam, with plenty of limestone 

 o-rit and sand mixed with it, and given 

 sunny positions. The three mentioned 

 thrive better w^hen giowu in half-shady 

 situations, in a non-cakareous soil. During 

 the late autumn and winter the most effec- 

 tive protection is afforded the plants, by 

 fixing a sheet of glass overhead, leaving the 

 sides open, to allow a current of air to pass 

 through. There must be no attempt to 

 coddle the plants, the protection being 

 nccossarv to maintain the foliage in a fairly 

 dry condition. When tlicsc points are at- 

 tciuhM! TO, muvli (»f the difficulty regardinix 

 the <-ultivation disappears. 



Top-dressing is an important po:nt to 

 consider when dealing with the androsaces. 

 Being grown in sloping crevices, the soil 

 naturally becomes washed away by heavy 

 rains and frequent waterings, liowever 

 tio-htly it is packed in with stones. The 

 top-dressing should consist of the same k:nd 

 of soil as that in Avhieh the pbuit is growing. 



and bo applied from time to time as mav 

 become neces-sary. Species having tufted 

 crrowths, such as A. carnea and A 

 Laggeri, will require to have the soil worked 

 well amongst the growths. Trailnig spe- 

 cies. su<'h as A. lanuginosa, most be top- 

 dressed round the collars of the plants, 

 whilst the rosette-form'ng kinds are tinen 



This is the quickest method of increasing 

 the stock of all species having the latter 

 habit of growth. The young rosettes are 

 put into small pots, and grown on m frames. 

 Cuttings of lanuginosa and A. Leichtlini 

 should be taken in the early part of August, 

 and dibbled into pots of sand. These are 

 placed in a cold frame, and kept close for 

 a time, when the cuttings quickly form 

 roots. When sufficiently rooted, the young 

 plants are potted up singly, and given 

 frame protection, through the first \vniter. 

 The following spring they may be planted 

 out in their permanent quarters. Those 

 species which form tufts or cushions of foli- 

 age should be increased by seeds. Division 

 of the plants is sometimes advistnl, but it is 

 rather risky, for andi-osaces do not care for 

 root disturbance. The see<ls are sown in 

 April, in pots which have been filled with 

 fine soil, and place<l in a cold frame. Trans- 

 planting and potting must be attended to as 

 the seedlings grow. 



With reference to the species that should 

 be selected for the rockery, the following 

 may be especially recommended: A. carnea 

 has rose-coloured flowers with yellow cen- 

 tres, A. coronopifolia is a biennial, and 

 w^hen once established, reproduces itself 

 freely from see^ls. A. Chumbyi is one 

 of the prettiest of the androsaces, and of 

 fairly easy cultivation. Its rovsy flowers 

 are borne in uinl>els on stems about three 

 inches high. Tlie w^oolly rosettes of foliage 

 are formed on the ends of thread-like run- 

 ners, and when top-dressed in July or 

 August these rosettes will, if slightly 

 pressed into the soil, and held in position 

 by a small wire pin, quickly root 

 into the soil. The variety is said to be a 

 cross between A. sarmentosa and A. yillosa. 

 A. foliosa has rose-coloured flowers in um- 

 bels. 



being 



which produce almost stemless bunches of 

 white flowers, with yellow centres. 



A. Laggeri is similar to A. carnea, wnth 

 a greater freedom in flowering than the 

 latter. A lanuginosa should be afforded a 

 position where its slender growi^hs can trail 

 over the face of a stone. The flowering 

 season of this lovely species extends over a 

 considerable period, and a good-sized patch 

 is usually much admired. The rose-coloured 

 flowers are borne at tlie ends of the shoots, 

 and as growth is very free during the 

 summer, there is usually an alnmdance of 

 flowers. It is one of the easiest to propa- 

 gate. The young growths will root quickly 

 in sand in August, if kept close in a cold 

 frame. A. Lneichtlini is similar to the 

 ])receding, requiring the same treatment, 

 but having white flowers with rosy centres. 

 A. sarmentosa has sonu^thiinj; of the habit 

 of A. Chumbyi, but tlu^ rosettes are larger 

 and the blossoms are more numerous than 

 those of the latter. K. C. Pooley. 



Cnaton (iJardens. 



A. helvetica is of spreading habit, 



fresh top soil when the young rus^^ttes are 

 forming, and pressed into it, when they 



Anemone and Pompon Chry- 

 santhemums.— I have noticed^ the en- 

 deavour of the committee of the X.C.i>- to 

 resuscitate tliese sections of the chrysanthe- 

 mum by offering prizes for seedlings in 1913. 

 What a project I If the committee would for- 

 mulate a class or classes for one or both of 

 these sections, and offer handsome prizes in 

 an open class, restricting no one from en- 

 tering, be he nurseryman or amateur, they 

 would obtain a meritorious dis]>lay. and 

 would prove to the public thii^ tlie varieties 

 now in existence are not nearly .-o exhausted 

 as the comm'lt(\' ai)pears to think tliey are 

 in 1912. To make any real ]n<!gress in the 

 subject it is nsrh'>^ lor th<' sticicty to wait 

 until the month of .Marcli before acquainting 

 the public of itti rc<}uircincnt^ m the 

 urrent season. Too late an i->ue of the 



schedule is not the way to 



prize 

 ciuccess. 



ensure 



