1871. ] 
CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES. 
197 
passed beauty, and gladden us with their presence when 4 the last rose of summer 
is faded and gone.’ It is the nature of some of the “ autumnals ” to continue 
putting forth here and there a flower at intervals, of others to remain dormant 
awhile, and give a second crop of flowers in September. Half the 44 Hybrid Per¬ 
petual ” roses which are called 44 autumnals ” would be more faithfully described 
as summer roses—Hybrid Chinas and “Hybrid Bourbons” producing a few 
passing flowers in autumn. I maintain, then, that both 44 summer ” and 
u autumn ” roses are desirable. If we rest satisfied with the former, there will be no 
roses in the garden after July; if we confine our culture to the latter, we miss the 
most glorious feature of the Rose-garden—the huge but grand and shapely masses 
of flowers produced by well-arranged groups or well-trained specimens of Summer 
Roses.— Wm. Paul, Paul’s Nurseries , Waltham Cross , N. 
CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES. 
'f'pT a ' OST of my readers are, no doubt, lovers of these very old favourites ; and 
ll'JsP 1L as the blooming season is now over, I propose very briefly to make a few 
• / 
practical remarks concerning them, with the object of inducing some who 
have not yet done so to take up their culture. Immediately after bloom¬ 
ing, then, the operation of layering should take place. This is a simple process, 
and is generally very well understood. Some good light rich sandy soil should be 
prepared and placed to a depth of about two inches around the plants. To keep 
the layers down, I find pegs made of the common fern preferable to any other. 
As the layers are pegged down, take care nut to press them into the ground 
more than half an inch deep. The layers should in dry weather be frequently 
sprinkled with a fine rose waterpot, so as to keep the soil moderately moist. In 
about a month they will be sufficiently rooted to take off for potting. This is 
a point to which I wish to draw particular attention. Recently (p. 169) I 
recommended autumn planting for Pinks ; but to plant out the young newly- 
struck layers of Carnations and Picotees in the autumn, would be as injurious 
to them as a similar practice would be beneficial to the Pinks. The losses ex¬ 
perienced among the former, even among the most robust-growing kinds, during 
the winter, if they are planted in the open ground, are generally considerable. 
As soon, then, as the layers are sufficiently rooted, they should be taken off 
and potted, either putting a pair in a pot, or potting them singly, using a middle- 
sixty pot for the single plants, and a large-sixty for the pairs. The soil to be 
used for them should consist of three parts good fresh turfy loam, and one part 
good rotten manure, with the addition of a little silver sand. After they are 
potted, give them a gentle watering, and place them in a cold pit or frame, taking 
care to have them raised up near to the glass ; give a little air at the back, and 
take off the lights for an hour or two the first thing in the morning ; slight mid¬ 
day shading for a few days will be necessary until they have drawn root. They 
may then have more air given them, increasing it gradually, until in a short time 
