318 
THE CONSERVATORY. 
Thin Flowers. — The Northern growers 
have for many years shown flowers with two 
rows of petals, and a couple of petals stuck up 
in the middle, back to back, for a crown. This 
has arisen out of the mode of judging, in which 
any ugly or defective petal counts against the 
flower, so that petal after petal is pulled 
out until the least quantity allowed is left. 
But this led to the saving of flowers naturally 
thin* for it happens that some double flowers, 
in Pinks, Picotees, and Carnations, are very 
often more regularly and more beautifully 
marked than the more full and double ones 
are. Nevertheless, the standards put out of 
late years have gradually improved the tastes 
of the cultivators all over the country ; and, 
although it will take time to bring it uniform 
and correct, every year advances the quality 
of the varieties considered fit to send out 
as new ones, while the thin flowers, being 
rejected by the majority of exhibitors, find 
little or no encouragement. 
Carnation Shows. — The season of 1846 
has been one of the most remarkable that has 
occurred for more than forty years. Never 
has it happened in the recollection of the 
oldest florists, that Carnations and Picotees 
were in flower on the 24th June ; yet, even at 
Marlow, on the 23d, there were stands exhi- 
bited. The ordinary season, for twenty miles 
all round London, is the 20th of July; indeed, 
it used to be considered that the 20th of April 
for Auriculas, the 20th May for Tulips, 20th of 
June for Pinks, and the 20th July for Carna- 
tions, were the best, and all societies endea- 
voured to fix their days of show as nearly as 
they could to those days : 1846 will be memo- 
rable for being one month earlier; and the 
Pink shows all round the Metropolis have 
produced little other than small lateral blooms, 
while Carnations and Picotees were in high 
order. But the flowers of all have been com- 
paratively diminutive ; four or five weeks of 
burning sun, gave no opportunity of growing 
to perfection of size. There was scarcely a 
day's really growing weather for a month, and 
the result was inevitable — flowers, with few 
exceptions, only reached half their proper size, 
the best exhibitions were but middling, and 
some very inferior. 
GARDENING CALENDAR FOR AUGUST. 
THE CONSERVATOR!'. 
August is generally a hot month, and 
while this is the case, conservatories require 
good ventilation, and a continuation of the 
shading provided during former months. The 
latter, however, must not be too freely indulged 
in, or the maturation of the shoots will be 
prevented or retarded. By this time of the 
year most of the plants will have made their 
growth, and it should now be the principal 
aim to get that growth well matured ; the 
treatment which is most conducive to this 
end, is to gradually reduce the supply of 
moisture to the roots, and also, as far as pos- 
sible, that contained in the atmosphere ; to 
discontinue — gradually likewise — the shading 
which has been employed, and to allow the 
ventilation to be as free and perfect as may 
be compatible with the welfare of such plants 
in bloom as can be obtained for decorative 
purposes. 
Watering. — The permanent plants must now 
be less liberally Watered, and they should, if 
possible, by the gradual withholding of water, 
be brought to a state of rest, as they will 
have to submit to some degree of excitement 
in winter, when the house is kept rather 
warmer than ordinary for the sake of the 
forced flowers which are brought into it. 
Plants in pots require to be regularly sup- 
plied, and the quantity will yet hardly bear 
to be reduced. Those in bloom always re- 
quire rather over than under an average 
supply for the season of the year. "When, 
however, there may happen to be stove plants 
amongst them, these will require rather less 
than usual, in a low temperature. Syringing 
will not be required, except for a plant occa- 
sionally here and there. It is preferable dur- 
ing this month to commence the practice of 
watering only in the morning. 
Autumn Flowers. — Look well to the plants 
of different kinds intended to produce blooms 
through the autumn and winter, and see that 
they are kept in a growing state. Chrysan- 
themums, Cinerarias, Pelargoniums, Salvias, 
Heliotropes, and plants of this habit, should 
have their roots attended to, and if they require 
it they should get a shift ; but it is advisable 
not to grow them on too freely, as this would 
rather check their flowering. The Pelar- 
goniums, Salvias, and Heliotropes, during all 
the earlier stages of their growth, should have 
their young shoots frequently stopped, so as 
to induce nice bushy plants, which then pro- 
duce plenty of flowers. By this time the 
stopping of them must be discontinued, and 
the plants should get less waiter, so as to be 
matured and rested before they are required 
