May 12. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER 
101 
I 
my former remarks; and, lastly, there are some im¬ 
provements in Carnation culture that are worth noting. 
Soil .—This is a very important article : without good 
soil it is in vain to expect good show flowers. Old 
garden mould is not at all fit for them; fresh virgin 
loam is absolutely necessary. It must be looked for in 
upland pastures, and the upper stratum, about three 
inches thick, is the best. This should be carted home, 
laid on a heap, not too thick, and be turned over fre¬ 
quently to decompose the grassy surface. Add to this, 
about one-fourth of two-year-old, well-decomposed cow- 
dung, and the same quantity of leaf mould. A small 
quantity of linely-sifted old lime-rubbish will be found 
useful to mix with it: this keeps the soil open, and 
helps to decompose and sweeten it. The compost, pre¬ 
viously to being used, should be put into a place where 
it will gradually become moderately dry. 
Potting .—The plants having been duly taken care of 
through the winter, prepare for potting by looking out 
the proper sized pots for blooming. These are from ten 
to eleven inches in diameter. If not new, they should 
be well washed and dried. Let the drainage be abun¬ 
dant, at least an inch thick, and cover it with another 
inch of the roughest part of the compost; turn the 
plants, in pairs, carefully out of the store pots; fill in 
sufficient compost to raise the ball nearly level with the 
rim of the blooming pot; then gently loosen some of 
the outer roots, and rub off the old surface mould; place 
the plants in the pot, and fill round the ball till it is 
covered; press the soil down gently, and give a smart 
stroke or two upon the bench ; this settles the soil 
equally, and then the operation is finished. This pot¬ 
ting should be done before the middle or end of April. 
The plants should be protected by an awning from 
heavy rains and late spring frosts, but in fine weather 
should be fully exposed to its influences. Gentle showers 
will do them good; it is the heavy, splashing storms i 
that injure them. 
The London Horticultural Society, for the last two or 
three years, has given prizes for Carnations in pots. 
Now, if it is intended to compete for such prizes the 
potting should be accordingly. To make a better show 
there ought to be more plants in each pot. Each plant t 
only sends up one flower stem, and where only a pair 
in each pot is exhibited the blaze of flowers is too weak 
to be effective. I am quite sure four strong plants 
would make a far better and more effective display. 
Why not? As the schedules are generally sent and 
distributed early enough for the potting season, there is 
plenty of time to prepare the requisite number of plants. 
For growing blooms to exhibit as cut flowers, one, or, 
as is generally practised, a pair of plants in a pot is not 
only sufficient, but desirable, in order to produce larger 
blooms; but to be shown in pots, I think I am right in 
recommending three or four plants in each pot. I per¬ 
fectly remember the Carnations that were shown in pots 
made but a poor appearance on the stages at Chiswick, 
because the blooms, though individually good, were so 
few in number, that the appearance, as a whole, was by 
no means up to the mark of splendid effect compared 
with other flowers. Even the humble Fansey, in pots, 
surpassed them. Much might be said in favour of this 
mode of exhibiting all florists’ flowers usually grown in 
pots. The great use of exhibitions to the public is 
seeing how the flowers are managed to bring them to 
such perfection ; and there can be no better plan devised 
than that of shewing them the plants, as well as 
flowets, on the stages. I trust florists generally will 
second the Horticultural Society’s well-meant efforts, 
and grow Carnations, Picotees, &c., in pots, purposely to 
be exhibited in them. 
After the potting is finished, and the plants so placed 
as to be protected from heavy rains, worms and other 
insects, the only care they require is the supplying them 
duly with soft rain water, and sometimes with weak 
liquid-manure, as they require it, and placing stakes to : 
them, in time to support the rising flower-stems to keep j 
them in an upright position. Tie loosely, so that the j 
stems can lengthen without forming knees or bended 
joints. If tied very tight this will certainly happen, 
and the stem will in time break off at the bended joint. 
Let the cultivator, then, be careful to tie his Carnation, 
Picotee, and Pink stems loosoly, to prevent such an 
occurrence. 
When the flower-buds are advanced to a considerable 
size they must have a ligature placed round them to 
prevent their bursting on one side. The best are made 
of India-rubber bands, which may be obtained at most j 
stationers’ shops. These are superior to the common 
garden mat, because they are elastic, and, consequently, j 
allow the bud to swell, but are sufficiently tight to cause j 
1 the calyx, or green flower-cup, to open regularly all j 
| round. 
When the flowers begin to expand, it will be necessary 
to shelter them from the sun. The most effectual j 
method is a stage with a covering of canvass on rollers j 
that can be rolled up and let down at pleasure. This ! 
should be elevated on a frame high enough to walk j 
i under. Such cultivators as have not the convenience of 
' a stage must have shelters formed like a small parasol, 
having a socket in the middle to slide down the support 
sticks just far enough to shade and protect the flowers. 
These may be made of tin, painted green, or of zinc, or 
a frame made of stout wire, of the same form, and 
covered with oiled canvass. This sort of shelter, how¬ 
ever, can only be considered as a make-shift. The 
covered stage is the best, most effectual, and most 
lasting, besides the advantage of being constantly under 
; the eye to watch the progress of the flowers, and admire 
their beauty when in full bloom. 
Thinning the Buds .—Select three or four of the most 
promising on each stem, and nip oft’ the remainder. 
This rule applies to such as are intended for exhibiting 
as cut blooms; rather more should be left for those 
to be shown in pots. Six or seven would not be too 
many, if the plants are strong, in this case. 
T. Apri.EB\\ 
(To he continued.) 
VEGETABLE-MARROW. 
Many years ago, the Gourd family, to which this 
useful vegetable belongs, was held in much greater esti¬ 
mation than at present, although, in point of utility, the 
varieties now in existence far exceed those of that day, 
which were, in fact, mere objects of curiosity. Some, 
indeed, professed to admire them when prepared in a j 
certain way, yet these parties formed exceptions to the 
general rule. But as the “march of intellect” has i 
stripped these singular productions of all merit, except 
what arises from their value as an adjunct to, other 
things at table, the “standard of excellence” has j 
assumed another shape, and the huge production of 
former days, which by its bulk used to astonish the un¬ 
informed beholder, is no longer tolerated, unless at 
i some period of its growth it can be made subservient 
to our uses, by administering in some way to the 
general “ bill of fare.” 
This change in the public taste has not, however, 
become universal; as we now and then meet with fruit 
exhibited at Horticultural Shows of a kind meriting 
the approbation of our fore-elders. Without, however, 
in any way disparaging these articles of novelty, which 
in their way are not only excusable, but highly recom- j 
mendable, we come to the task of saying a lew words on 
