58 
BEAUTIFUL GARDEN FLOWERS. 
so as to be ready for tbe open ground in summer. 
Thousands of worthless seedlings, called “ Jacks/’ are 
raised every year in some parts of the country, and 
are imposed by costermongers in spring on unsuspect- 
ing amateurs as choice double-flowered varieties. 
Pests, &c. — Carnations are subject to attacks of a 
maggot, which works its way down the centre of the 
shoots, and if not eradicated with a long needle will 
soon destroy the plants. Wireworms in the soil do 
great mischief, and may be trapped in scooped-out 
pieces of potato, which should be examined each day. 
Earwigs are often a nuisance at flowering time, but 
may be trapped in pots containing a little moss, or in 
crumpled pieces of paper steeped beforehand in a 
sugary solution. Slugs are very partial to the young- 
shoots, and are best checked by hand-picking, and 
strewing a little soot round the base of the plants. 
There is only one other important point to be 
remembered in Carnation growing, and that is to 
provide neat stakes to support the flowering stems ; 
otherwise the blossoms will droop to the ground and 
get soiled. 
“ Marguerite ” Carnations are lovely annuals, re- 
markable for their beautifully fringed blossoms of 
various colours from deep crimson to pure white. The 
seeds should be grown in gentle heat in February or 
March. The young plants are grown steadily on till 
the end of May or early June, wdien they can be 
planted out. Seeds from a good source yield about 
80 per cent, of double flowers. 
CARTHAMUS tinctorious ( Saffron Thistle or Saf- 
flower . — This showy Egyptian annual grows 2 to 8 
