THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION.— July 22, 1856. 
29; 
it in that state. When left on the surface it seems to 
last a very long time. The first we used of it last Octo¬ 
ber is now as fresh as when we had it, and we think so 
highly of it that at the end of last May we mulched 
some hundreds of yards of quickset hedges with it, 
putting it on two inches thick and eighteen inches wide 
all the way. These hedges are seven years planted, hut 
being round a grass field they got so choked up with 
grass as to hinder the growth of the plants; but after 
digging the ground and laying on this new mulching 
they have gone on right well, and very few weeds have 
got through the stuff. I hardly know how to describe 
the stuff, but say a reddish-brown sawdust, as from saw¬ 
ing cedar wood, filled with boar’s bristles, the sawdust- 
like substance being the ground shell of the nut and 
the bristles the refuse of the fibre, of which the afore¬ 
said mats are made. I cannot give any more information 
about it, ns I do not happen to know any one of the 
firm, or if there be more than one. 1 only heard of it 
“ promiscuously,” and the rest is from the Experimental 
Garden. D. Beaton. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
THE CARNATION AND PICOTEE. 
These are eminently and emphatically llorists’ flowers, 
requiring, from March till the blooming season is over, 
almost daily watering and judicious treatment. The 
points of culture necessary may be briefly stated to be 
procuring the proper soil, which consists of fresh maiden 
earth, formed of four-inch thick turves from an upland 
pasture, well decayed, and sweetened by frequent turn¬ 
ing. Of this take three parts; add one part of two- 
year-old cow - dung, and one part well-decayed leaf- 
mould; mix them well together some little time before 
using, and place the necessary quantity under shelter a 
sufficient time to dry before it is wanted. The next 
point is to grow them in large pots, potting them in 
March, for it has been proved that the colours seldom 
come true in the open border. These pots should be 
at least ten inches across to hold a pait of plants. 
Being so large, the plants do not suffer so much from 
drought nor from too often watering. Jn smaller pots 
they require more frequent watering, which is injurious, 
insomuch as it washes away the nutritive qualities of 
the soil just at the time when the flowers begin to open 
and require the greatest support. The third point is the 
sticking and tying the stems. The sticks should be put 
in early, just before the stems begin to rise, and the 
ties should always be so slack as to allow for the swelling 
and growth of the stems. Another point is thinning 
the buds. If strong in stem, leave three on each ; if 
weak, only one. Just before the buds break, tie a piece 
of bass-nrat round each bud, to prevent it bursting on 
one side, or, which is better, place a small India-rubber 
ring round each ; and, lastly, shade the blooms from 
rain, wind, and sunshine. 
The Carnation is chiefly propagated by layers. This 
operation should be performed as soon as the shoots rising 
round the flower-stems are long enough. This layering is 
a neat and interesting operation. I will briefly describe 
it, though I would advise any amateur who has never 
seen it done to visit some garden, and ask an experienced ; 
hand to give him an ocular demonstration how to do it. 
I may, however, just state, that the shoot to be layered 
should have the lower leaves trimmed off pretty close 
to the stem, leaving about four or five on the top; then 
with a sharp penknife make an incision on one side, just 
below the third joint; then peg it down, and cover the 
cut with some light soil. When rooted, take them up, 
pot them in pairs in 4-inch pots, and keep them through 
the winter in a cold pit or frame, giving due supplies 
of water and abundance of air in fine weather. 
The Picotee, which is a variety of the Carnation, re- j 
quires precisely the same treatment. For more minute 
directions on the culture of these lovely, sweet flowers see j 
former numbers of The Cottage Gardener, and also 
The Cottage Gardeners’ Dictionary, especially in the j 
new edition now issuing in numbers. 
r i 
Twelve New Selected Carnations. 
1. Christopher Sly (May).—Deep scarlet flake. Very j 
fine. 
2. General Simpson (Puxley).—Crimson bizarre. Very 
fine. 
•3. John Gair (Puxley).—Crimson bizarre. Distinct. | 
4. King John (May).—Rose flake. Large and very j 
fine. 
5. Lord Cardigan (Puxley).— Extra fine crimson 
bizarre. 
6. Morgan May (Puxley).—Pink bizarre. Good. 
7. Orion (Puxley).—Scarlet flake. 
8. Sir Colin Campbell (Puxley).—Pink bizarre. 
9. Silistria (Puxley).—Scarlet bizarre. Large and 
fine. 
10. Tenby Rival (Puxley).—Crimson bizarre. Very 
fine. 
11. Warrior (Puxley).—Crimson bizarre. Good. 
12. Victoria Regina (Headley).—Scarlet flake. Large > 
and very bright. 
Twelve Older Selected Varieties. 
1. Eclipse (Nicklin). — Scarlet bizarre. 
2. Mr. Ainsworth (Holland).—Scarlet bizarre. Large 
and fine. 
3. Sir Joseph Paxton (Ely). —Scarlet bizarre. Large 
and fine. 
4. King of Carnations (Puxley).—Crimson bizarre. 
5. Prince, of Denmark (May).—Crimson bizarre. Very * 
large and fine. 
(i. Beauty of Woodhouse (May).—Purple flake. 
7. Premier (Millwood).—-Purple flako. 
8. Exit (May). — Scarlet flake. Extra fine. 
9. Salamander (Turner).—Scarlet flake. Very bright, j 
10. Sarah Payne (Ward).—Pink and purple flake. 
]1. Flora's Garland ( Brook).—Rose flake. The best 
of its class. 
12. Lovely Ann (Ely).—Fine rose flake. 
Twelve New Selected Picotees. 
1. Amy Robsart (Dodwell).—Purple edge. Good. 
2. Bessie (Turner). — Medium purple edge. Extra ; 
fine. 
3. Chancellor (Headley).—Heavy red edge. Fine. 
4. Dr. Pitman (Turner).—Heavy red edge. Pure 
white ground. 
5. Eugenia (Turner).—Light red edge. Very large 
and fine. 
6. Ljady Eleanor Cathcari. —Heavy scarlet edge. 
Very bright and fine. 
7. Mrs. Drake (Turner).—Heavy scarlet edge, full 
size. Very bright and fine. 
8. Mrs. Bayley (Dodwell). — Heavy purple edged. 
Good and very bright. 
9. Mrs. Lochner (Turner).—Heavy red edge. Great 
substance. Solid, very bright, and flue. 
10. Mrs. Keynes (Norman).—Light purple edged. •• 
Fine. 
11. Mrs. Aitkin (Turner).—Medium purple edge; full 
flower. Large and fine. 
12. Sultana (Turner).—Medium red edge ; extra fine 
Large smooth petal. 
Twelve Selected Older Varieties. 
1. Duke of Wellington (Turner).—Heavy red edged. , 
Fine. 
