186S. ] 
THE CULTIVATION OF THE CARNATION AND PICOTEE. 
69 
water, and used in the liquid form—first a layer of the mould, turned on 
to a heap, then a portion of the liquid thrown over the mould, and then 
another portion of the mould, and so on till the heap is made up. If the loam 
should he of rather a heavy close nature, it may he as well, before throwing 
it up with the dung, to mix with it a small quantity of river or road sand, 
and at the same time a small quantity of quicklime would be of service. 
After it has laid in a heap for about six weeks or two months, then chop it 
down, giving it a regular turn-over, and during this process keep a sharp 
eye upon it all through for the itireivorm , which is the worst enemy the 
Carnation has to contend with. The chopping-down and turning of the 
soil will require to be repeated several times before it is fit to be used 
for the summer’s growth in their blooming pots. The soil for the layers, 
when taken off in the autumn, will not require any manure at ail, but the 
same sort of loam will suit them quite well enough while they are in their 
small pots during the winter months. In the spring, about the middle of 
April, they require to be taken out of the small pots with the whole ball of 
earth about them, and placed in the larger pots, the newly prepared soil 
being nicely filled-in round about them. For about a month or so, the 
pots ought to be placed on the south side of a wall or hedge running east 
and west, and about the end of that time the sticks may be thrust down 
the centre of the pots, and the pots then moved to an open airy space of 
the garden, where they can enjoy all changes of weather up to near the 
time of blooming. 
In a future paper I will give my own practice for blooming, layering, 
&c. I shall now give the names of those which are considered the leading 
varieties, for which list I am indebted to Mr. T. Mellor, of Asliton-under- 
Lyne, who is, I believe, in possession of one of the largest and best 
collections of these beautiful flowers in Lancashire or Yorkshire—at one 
time the two chief counties in England for Carnations and all kinds of 
florist’s flowers, excepting Tulips—which latter, however, seem to be gaining 
ground, and leaving other flowers behind them. However, as we now hear 
of inquiries in the market, I hope we shall see something like a revival of 
old times, when was sung:— 
li Ye gardeners and florists all, “ In spring and autumn, all tlie same, 
Attend unto my story : I spend an hour of leisure ; 
What I relate to you is all In winter, and in summer too, 
My tale of fame and glory. My garden is my pleasure. 
“ Grow flowers, grow : grow flowers, grow. 
While gardening is a pleasure, 
I’ll attend the flower show.” 
SELECT LIST OF CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES. 
Scarlet Bizarres : Admiral Curzon (Easom), Sir J. Paxton (Ely), Duke of York 
(Strong), Lord Derby (Heap), Sir B, Peel (Marchant), Music (Brierly). 
Crimson Bizarres: Warrior (Slater), Jenny Lind (Puxley), Lord Milton (Ely), Lord 
Raglan (Bower), Captain Stort (Jackson), King of Carnations (Puxley). 
