November 20 , 1890 . ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
439 
A FTER travelling 900 miles on behalf of the Chrysanthemum, 
and adjudicating upon upwards of 5000 blooms, it may be 
readily imagined that it was a pleasant relief last Saturday to turn 
aside for a fen hours to another favourite flower-the Carnation. 
To my friend, Mr. Harry Turner of Slough, I owe the opportunity 
of inspecting a wonderful collection of Carnations at Ascott, near 
Leighton Buzzard, the residence of Leopold de Rothschild, Esq., 
whose courtesy, with the kind attention of his excellent gardener, 
Mr. Jennings, rendered my hurried visit most agreeable. 
Much could be written respecting Ascott and its garden, and a 
long description would be needed to do full justice to such an 
establishment. It is beautifully situated on a considerable elevation 
overlooking the Yale of Aylesbury with stately Mentmore and the 
-Chiltern Hills in the distance, while the garden has been designed 
and planted with most commendable taste. A November day, even 
with a bright sun lighting up the landscape, is not, however, the 
most suitable time for appreciating the attractions of such a scene, 
and the pleasure of another visit is therefore reserved. In the 
present notes attention will be confined to the chief object of my 
visit—the Carnations. 
Conversing with an experienced cultivator and thorough 
•florist of the modern school a few days since “ dressing,” as applied 
to flowers for exhibition, became the subject, and my friend, who 
holds strong opinions upon the point, expressed himself somewhat 
in the following terms :—“ The florists’ or exhibition Carnations 
are being killed in popular estimation by the excessive artificiality 
with which they are displayed at shows. The incurved Chrysan¬ 
themums, for which this preparation is deemed essential, are being 
gradually ousted by the Japanese varieties that do not need it ; 
and even the Rose is suffering from the same cause, and the public 
are turning to the old garden Roses for natural grace of form and 
usefulness.” There is a large measure of truth in these remarks, 
and especially as applied to the Carnation. For example, take the 
increasing popularity of the so-called border varieties, w T hich do not 
possess sufficient symmetry of form to satisfy the more exacting 
florists, and yet are highly valued in gardens where bright fragrant 
flowers are required by basketfuls. Then, too, there is another 
section of Carnations, comprising some of the most useful in 
cultivation—namely, the tree, winter, and spring-flowering varie¬ 
ties for culture under glass, which are advancing in public favour, 
as they well deserve. These flowers can be had in such numbers, 
-over so long a period when they are sure to be most in request, 
and the expense and trouble incurred in their production are of a 
much more moderate character than many other plants demand at 
fhat time of year. 
At Ascott the great feature at the present time is a houseful of 
the well known beautiful variety Miss Joliffe, and as a floricultural 
display and example of cultural success this is remarkable in 
the highest degree. About 1500 plants are grown, two-thirds of 
which are now in the house, and as the plants bear from fifty to 
sixty fine flowers each there is a total exceeding 50,000 fully open 
or expanding. The effect produced by such large numbers of 
delicately tinted, elegant, but not too rigidly symmetrical flowers in 
•combination with healthy foliage is charming in the extreme, and 
we have in addition the exquisite fragrance, not too powerful for 
the most sensitive in these matters. The sterling usefulness of 
No. 543.— Yol. XXI., Third Series 
such Carnations as these is apparent at a glance. The plants them¬ 
selves can be employed for any form of decoration, in groups, on 
tables, or elsewhere, and the flowers are equally well adapted for 
vases, stands, bouquets, buttonholes, baskets, or indeed for any of 
the almost innumerable purposes to which flowers are now applied. 
It is not merely a case of growing flowers as a hobby or to gratify 
fantastic desires, but they perform a substantial service that must 
be appreciated in any garden at this time of year. 
The house in which the plants are growing is a handsome, well- 
constructed, substantial span-roofed erection in Messrs. Foster and 
Pearson’s best style. It is 70 feet long in two divisions, 18 feet 
wide, and about 18 feet high to the lantern, with neat central and 
side stages of iron, and it is provided with a simple but efficient 
system of ventilation in the roof also above and below the stages. 
The latter is a very important matter, as Carnations at all times 
require plenty of air, and yet cold draughts are most injurious, causing 
a check that the best after-treatment can seldom overcome entirely. 
For the admission of air in severe weather the ventilators beneath 
the stages are covered inside with thin perforated metal plates, so 
placed that the current of air strikes directly upon the hot-water 
pipes, and is thus slightly warmed before reaching the plants. 
This may seem a small matter, but success depends largely upon 
the details in all departments of industry, and especially in horti¬ 
culture. In fine weather air is admitted as freely as possible, an 
even temperature of about 55° being maintained from now onwards. 
Higher temperatures and a moist atmosphere seem to suit Carna¬ 
tions of this class, inducing a rapid growth; but the results are 
often disastrous when this treatment is adopted, as I have seen in 
many cases. The plants really become weakened, the flowers are 
small, wanting in substance, and of less duration than when deve¬ 
loped under cooler and more airy conditions. The paths are 
formed of iron gratings, beneath which is a layer of clean shingle, 
the same material being employed upon the stages and beneath the 
pipes. . Near the edge of the paths a narrow border is formed and 
planted with small Ferns, all these arrangements helping to pre¬ 
serve a sweet atmosphere, exactly what the Carnation requires. 
An outline of the system so successfully adopted by Mr. J. 
Jennings will no doubt be interesting and useful to some readers, 
and it can be compressed into a few words. In the first place 
cuttings are inserted during February in light sandy soil, the pots 
being plunged in slight heat. When rooted the young plants are 
transferred to small or large GO-pots, according to their size, and 
when sufficiently advanced placed into 48’s, and subsequently 
into 32’s or 2i’s, regard being paid to the strength of the plants 
and the condition of their roots. They are first removed to frames 
outside, and in June are plunged in ashes out of doors in an open 
but not too exposed position, where they remain until September 
in ordinary seasons, or later, according to the weather, when they 
are placed in the house where they are to flower. A good turfy 
loam is used as the basis of the soil, with sufficient sand to insure 
good drainage and avoid stagnation at the roots, a fatal condition. 
Very little manure is employed, but some of the advertised artificial 
preparations have been found advantageous in small quantities, 
though it would be invidious to mention them here, but one simple 
fertiliser has been proved to be of great service—namely, soot, and 
though this is not new to cultivators, its value is often ignored. 
The earliest plants commence flowering in October, and a 
succession is obtained until February or March. Some are cut in 
then to make fresh growth and produce a fresh supply of flowers, 
and these are often followed by another crop, so that three distinct 
supplies are usually had from one series of plants in a year. Old 
plants are, however, either placed out in beds or thrown away, 
fresh stock being raised every year as young vigorous plants give 
the best return. The smaller flower buds are removed freely, and 
this throws much additional strength into those retained, and they 
are found to last longer. In the new house these Carnations have 
not a sign of mildew, and aphides are not tolerated, the fine healthy 
No. 2199.—Yol. LXXXIII., Old Series. 
