724 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and Irish Carnations are noticed, and a number of names are given of 

 French and German varieties, and the author "maintains that for 

 amateurs who want good strong border plants the French varieties are of 

 much value." Nine varieties are named to make an excellent small 

 collection. They have been tried and found wanting. The best is 

 " Carolus Duran," but even that has long been superseded. Growers are 

 also informed that it is an advantage to plant the Carnation on a plot 

 of ground entirely surrounded by tall trees, "so that the whole place was 

 shaded at different times of the day." Very few Carnation-growers 

 would select such a position if any other were available. Some shelter 

 from the north and east might be desirable if the trees were not too tall 

 and at such a distance from the ground that it was not overshaded. 



There is also a chapter on " Exhibiting and Dressing." We are 

 informed that there is much to be said both for and against dressing ; but 

 for himself he prefers to exhibit in classes where that monstrosity, the 

 paper collar, is not permitted. The National Carnation and Picotee 

 Society, whose shows are held under the auspices of the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Society, offer valuable prizes for dressed flowers, and while these 

 prizes are offered exhibitors will be sure to compete for them ; but they 

 also offer prizes for Carnations shown in a natural manner. Certainly * 

 the tables where the dressed flowers are exhibited have a very bald appear- 

 ance, but this might easily be remedied if a row of Palms were arranged 

 down the centre of the tables. 



The illustrated chapter on " Pests and Diseases " is useful ; so also are 

 the " Monthly Operations." 



Lists of the newest and best varieties are also given which might be 

 improved, nor need two varieties have been printed twice over. We have 

 Lady Wolverton ' (Cutbush), rose pink ; ' Lady Wolverton ' (Cutbush), 

 rich deep salmon. Also ' Francis Samuelson,' soft apricot ; ' Francis 

 Samuelson,' soft clear apricot ; but a more grave error is in the fact that 

 1 Grisi,' 1 Chanticleer,' and 1 Montjoy ' are wrongly described as selfs, whereas 

 they are fancies. Some of the best selfs are left out, and some are in 

 that ought to be out. 



There is also a chapter on Pinks, and the book contains a number of 

 illustrations of groups of Carnations, examples of the best types of selfs 

 and fancies, also of the American Carnation ; but surely the very worst 

 type of Malmaison has been selected ; it is named 'Duchess of Norfolk.' 

 There are many of the new Malmaisons with well-formed flowers and 

 petals. Why select the worst ? It is not quite fair to the type. The list 

 of Malmaisons, too, is imperfect. 



The above imperfections have been pointed out ; but, on the other 

 hand, there is much useful information for the aspirant who wishes to 

 take up the culture of the Carnation. He will be informed how to propa- 

 gate his plants ; what kind of soil to grow them in, either in the open 

 garden or under glass. If disease or insect pests attack them, the treat- 

 ment is described. Layering is illustrated and described, but it is not 

 recommended for Pinks — why, it is hard to say. Thousands are propagated 

 every year, and all of them are layered. Certainly the Pink can be propa- 

 gated more readily from pipings than the Carnation ; but it can be pro- 

 pagated from layers quite as freely. 



