BORDER CARNATIONS. 
47 
Carnations there were several that invariably gave a second crop of 
bloom in the autumn. These were carefully cross-fertilized and seedlings 
again selected with the same habit, and thus, by careful selection, we 
have gained the full flowering period permitted by our English seasons. 
Some time ago I received a letter from Miss Kingsford of Fulham, 
a well-known writer to the gardening papers on Border Carnations, 
and collaborator with Mr. H. H. Thomas in the production of that 
useful little work " The Carnation Book." In her garden at Fulham 
she had a plant of the Salmon Carnation, ' Mrs. R. Gordon,' bearing 
342 blossoms. This extreme floriferousness, of course, does not con- 
tinue all the blooming period, but rarely can one visit a plant of this 
variety without finding bloom on it between the months of June 
and September. 
These remarks indicate clearly enough that the Carnation is quite 
an easy, free-growing border plant. There is no closely guarded secret 
known only to experts and unattainable by the ordinary amateur ; 
but, of course, on the other hand there is no royal road, paved with 
indolence and ease, that will lead to success without some little exertion 
and the intelligent knowledge of the simple wants and requirements 
of the plant. 
I now propose to give a few short hints on the general cultivation 
of the Border Carnation, and, in dealing with the two extremes 
of soil, heavy and light, I always find that the value of a stiff clay soil 
is greatly enhanced by the addition of a lightening medium, such as 
horse manure and coarse road sand or mortar rubbish ; whilst the 
light loams and chalky soils are benefited by incorporating ordinary 
farmyard manure. I have seen Carnations growing to a remarkable 
degree of perfection in stiff clay and in light calcareous soil. I have 
seen them grown with success on walls where little soil of any kind 
was visible. Altogether I consider the Border Carnation one of the 
most adaptable of plants in respect of environment and soil conditions. 
Carnations are very easily raised from seed, and this is an excellent 
method where an abundance of bloom is the main requirement, though, 
if extra fine flowers are wanted a stock of plants propagated as layers 
from named varieties must be procured, and these in turn can be layered 
by the grower for the purpose of increasing his stock. If seed is 
purchased from a really good source, the resulting plants will give 
80 per cent, to 90 per cent, of double flowers, and a few of these 
may be little if at all inferior to many named varieties. The seed 
may be sown any time during March or April, or, if the season is 
backward, it will not be too late if done early in May. As soon as 
the young plants have formed the second rough leaf, say about three 
or four weeks after germination, they should be pricked out of the seed 
boxes or pans, and planted out in prepared beds where, by September, 
they will have grown into strong bushy plants, sturdy enough to 
stand the frost, snow, and winds of any ordinary winter. During 
the first few weeks, when the growth is tender and soft, a sharp look- 
out must be kept for the Carnation maggot. Its appearance will 
