44 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
unseparated from the parent plant. This is a very good way indeed, 
for it prevents the leggy appearance sometimes noticed in the older 
plants, and always assures a nice compact clump. 
Great improvements have been made by hybridization within my 
own experience, which extends over the last twenty-five years. 
In the year 1889 it appeared certain that, if the Border Carnation 
was to become a garden favourite, easily cultivated and enjoyed by 
the small amateur as well as by the professional gardener, something 
must be done to improve its physique, whilst carefully preserving the 
wonderful form of the flower, which in the past had always 
distinguished this aristocrat of the Dianthus family. 
The worst fault appeared to be the inherent weakness of the stem, 
causing the flowers to flop over — even in varieties having small blooms 
. — unless they were carefully staked, displaying also what is tech- 
nically termed a weak neck. 
Another fault equal in degree to the last was an almost total absence 
of scent. ' Raby Castle ' and the ' Old Clove ' were two of a number 
that could be counted on the fingers of one hand, having any pretension 
to a clove scent. Again, the range of colour was limited ; ' Mrs. 
Reynolds Hole ' was the only apricot self worthy of the name, and in 
yellows, ' Germania,' a German variety raised by Benary of Erfurt, 
was alone. Both these varieties, most pleasing in colour and of 
exquisite form, the latter having the appearance of a yellow Gardenia, 
were more than difficult in the border, and, to be frank, were without 
a real constitution, both needing careful growing and wintering in a 
greenhouse or frame. 
About this time, however, the late Martin R. Smith of Hayes and 
my father, the late James Douglas, of Great Bookbem, determined to 
evolve a useful race of Hardy Border Carnations, neither being satisfied 
with the English varieties available in the year 1889. A complete 
change of blood seemed to suggest itself as the only solution. Both 
were enthusiastic florists and men of great determination. They 
therefore set out together on a tour through Germany, France, and 
Holland in search of varieties suitable for crossing with the standard 
English varieties then in cultivation. The nursery of Ernst Benary 
of Erfurt provided about two dozen varieties thought to be distinct 
and favourable for the purpose. And how very German were the 
names and how bizarre the colour of that little collection ! 
' Brockhaus ' ; buff flaked slaty grey. 
' Julius Bassermann ' ; yellow striped scarlet and purple. 
' Parsifal ' ; buff streaked red and orange. 
With these two dozen German varieties, and one or two picked 
up in Holland, the two enthusiasts set to work, and very soon several 
hundred grand varieties were produced, many of them being standard 
to-day, such as ' Cecilia ' sent out by Douglas in 1899, but raised 
by Martin R. Smith; 'Liberte,' 'Miss Willmott/ and 'Elizabeth 
Shiffner ' raised by J. Douglas, and the fine old clove-scented ' Lady 
Hermione ' raised by Martin R. Smith. Many Fellows of this 
