C A B N ATK) S C O NFE BE N C E . 



471 



CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES FOR EXHIBITION. 



By Mr. Harry Turner, F.R.H.S. 



As Mr. Williams has spoken of the Carnation from a botanical 

 point of view, and we have two more papers to follow — one on 

 Carnations and Picotees as town plants and one on Border 

 Carnations — I propose to confine the few remarks I have to make 

 strictly to Exhibition Carnations, and the first thought that 

 naturally arises is how to grow Carnations for exhibition, and 

 with your permission I shall endeavour to give you a few hints 

 on cultivation. In the first place, Carnations for exhibition 

 should always be grown in pots. Plants which are grown in 

 the ground are subject to canker and disease, and are not 

 so easily under command at the time of flowering. I think, 

 then, the best period to commence this paper is when the 

 layer is taken from the stool—the end of September. The 

 layer should be potted either singly (if a strong grower) or in 

 pairs (if a medium or weak grower) into 2|- or S^-inch pots, the 

 soil used on this occasion not being too light, and the plants 

 potted firmly. The plants should be placed in a cold frame 

 and kept close for a few days after potting. Should the sun 

 become very powerful, they should be lightly shaded, and 

 sprinkled overhead night and morning. Should any plants be 

 found to be shy-rooted when taken off the stools, they should 

 be placed in gentle bottom-heat. The plants will require to 

 have abundance of air day and night, the lights being entirely 

 removed daring the day, but they should be sheltered from very 

 heavy rains. Keep the plants clean during the winter by re- 

 moving all the decayed foliage, and lightly stir the top of the 

 soil. Plenty of air and a judicious use of the watering-pot will 

 keep away the dreaded spot. The Carnation being thoroughly 

 hardy, a little dry frost will do them no harm ; but should exces- 

 sive frost set in, a mat or any other slight covering will be of 

 benefit to them. 



We now come to the busy and critical time of the year in 

 the cultivation of the Carnation for exhibition, viz. March (in 

 speaking of the cultivation of the Carnation only throughout this 

 paper, its companion the Picotee is always included) ; and sup- 

 posing that the soil (of which I shall give a description later on) 



