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PREPARATION OF CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES FOR EXHIBITION. 
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Pinks in pots of the same size, in twelve or twenty-four distinct kinds, each plant carrying from 
six to a dozen flowers, would he very interesting, and Picotees and Carnations in the sized pots they 
are usually grown in, would be still more attractive. We may be told they would not carry a “ head of 
bloom,” by which is meant a quantity of flowers at the same bearing, but just the same thing was said 
of Roses, and yet in what magnificent condition we annually see them. Let but the leading growers 
turn their attention to this subject, and imaginary difficulties will soon vanish. One great advantage 
of this system of showing, in addition to superior attractiveness, and not rendering the destruction of 
the flowers by cutting necessary, would be the certainty by which, in untoward seasons, they might 
be produced at the time required, as, by introducing the potted plants to the greenhouse, and keeping 
the Pinks in a close frame for a short time, no fear need be entertained but that they would be in per¬ 
fect bloom at the proper time. This of itself would be a compensating achievment, as nothing can be 
more annoying to an ardent florist than to lose the opportunity of showing his favourite flowers after 
he has been at the trouble of growing them, for, though the compensation may be small, the pleasure 
and honour of gaining a prize is the same to all, and is a stimulus to perseverance which mere pecu¬ 
niary reward can never impart. 
Tulips and Ranunculuses would be more difficult, inasmuch as pots of an appropriate size would 
not hold sufficient soil to support the plants, but these we fancy may be planted in terra cotta vases, 
or ornamental boxes, in sixes, twelves, or twenty-fours, and so would be admissible. We do not, 
however, contend so much for these, as for flowers of a more durable character. We have a great 
objection to cut such, and as a great admirer of Carnations and Picotees, would rather see an exhibi¬ 
tion without the flowers, than have them cut. We commend these remarks to the attention of the 
Exhibition Committees of the Horticultural, and Royal Botanic Societies, and if either society should 
feel disposed to carry our suggestions into practice next year, we shall be ready to place at their 
disposal, for the best twelve dissimilar Picotees shown in July, in eleven-inch pots, 
First prize . . Gardeners’ Magazine of Botany . . 2 vols. 
Second do. . . do. do. . . 1 vol. 
Third do. ... Florists’ Guide ... 1 vol. 
While on the subject of exhibitions, we may remark, a rumour is afloat that the Horticultural Society 
have in contemplation an autumn exhibition of Dahlias, &c., at Chiswick, at a reduced admission, the 
Duke of Devonshire’s garden being thrown open to enhance the attraction. The expense of such an 
exhibition would not be great to the society, while the good it would do in bringing permanently into 
notice plants suitable for autumnal decoration, but at the present time but little known, would be 
immense, to say nothing of the stimulus it would give to the cultivation of Dahlias, Perpetual Roses, 
and autumnal flowers generally. When we hear more, we shall recur to the subject; and we most 
heartily wish the Society success in any such effort.—A. 
PREPARATION OF CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES FOR EXHIBITION. 
By Mr. G. GLEXNY, F H.S. 
I771HERE is no flower that more requires artificial aid than these very beautiful subjects. They are 
A totally helpless, as it were; there is no strength in the base of the petals, which are mere threads, 
supporting broad flat blades; the bunch of threads is in the calyx round the seed vessel, and the enlarged 
ends, which form the expanded blossom, burst the calyx and develope themselves in the most imperfect 
and confused manner. Strange as it may appear, the outer or large sized petals are often in the 
centre, and the small petals that should appear in the centre are outside ; and nine times out of ten the 
calyx would be split all the way down on one side, and not opened on the other. The only way to 
counteract this is, first to tie the pod or calyx round the middle when the bud is nearly full grown, 
but before it splits, and, having tied it firmly, wait until the calyx begins to open at top, and then 
tear down the five pieces to the tie all round alike, because that enables the petals to develope them¬ 
selves properly. 
But although the petals which are crowded in these pods will develope their individual beauties, 
they require to be dressed as it is called, that is, the petals all brought down into their proper places, 
for the thread-like bases of them will pass one another, and therefore the guard or broadest petals may 
be brought down to the outside, and the narrow ones guided to the centre. The greatest care is 
necessary in doing this, so that the petals be not bruised in the operation. But although thousands of 
flowers are dressed after they are cut, the work should begin earlier. As soon as the petals begin to 
