CARNATION CONFERENCE. 



493 



autumn. No winter will destroy a healthy, well-rooted layer ; 

 but the winter will often destroy the pith of old plants, and death 

 ensues. 



Success in Carnation culture lies through a round of daily 

 attentions constantly given. It is the small services rendered to 

 the plants which help to make up the sum of success. Remem- 

 ber the story of the sculptor Michael Angelo. A friend called 

 on him as he had just finished a bust. He called a month 

 afterwards, and there was still the bust — apparently untouched 

 during the intervening period. Accusing the sculptor of idleness, 

 Angelo replied by instancing the execution of several small 

 details which had improved his work. " But these are trifles " 

 said his visitor. 11 True," said the sculptor, "but trifles make 

 perfection, and perfection is no trifle." So it is with the suc- 

 3essful culture of Carnations and other plants. 



The critics of the florist in the gardening papers are some- 

 times imaginary painters ; they picture an ideal plant of a 

 Carnation so dwarf and robust that it can support its head of 

 bloom without stakes. I have never yec seen a satisfactory 

 representative of this ideal plant able to set wind and rain at 

 defiance. You cannot coerce Nature into producing plants of 

 equal height. She manifests her independence by bringing forth 

 both tall and short ones. Some like tall and some short plants 

 of Carnations. I like them all if they carry beautiful flowers. 

 Some day one of these critics may depose Nature and assume the 

 reins of government in the vegetable kingdom, and then we 

 shall see floral wonders made to order. Till then we must be 

 content with what comes in the ordinary way of things, and 

 be very thankful that the Carnation is such a lovely, useful, 

 and satisfying flower, and that, let it be presented to us in 

 any form that is fair and beautiful, we shall gratefully welcome 

 it, and heartily recognise its great capacities for calling forth 

 the admiration, ministering to the delights, and so gladdening 

 the hearts of the children of men. 



Discussion. 



In reply to a question from Mr. Peakson as to the reason 

 why the sweepings from gravel instead of granite roads should be 

 used, Mr. Dean said that because the sweepings from gravel 



