1880 .] 
CARNATIONS AND RICOTEES. 
59 
the same results in much less time, and in 
more limited spaces, in order to ensure more 
variety, but the ruling principles are the same 
in both cases. Fruit-bearing is the outcome 
of exhaustion in some way or other, and 
whether produced naturally or artificially, the 
same conditions of growth must be present to 
achieve success. 
Now, since under a treatment opposed to 
natural conditions, we must perforce endeavour 
to influence the growth through the medium 
of the roots, it is worth our while to consider 
in what way this influence may be most bene¬ 
ficially exerted. First, as to the time : In my 
opinion (but I am liable to mistakes), the 
proper time should be towards the end of 
September or beginning of October, as soon as 
the summer foliage is matured. We are in no 
wise dependent upon a late autumn growth or 
foliage for the maturity of the wood from 
which we expect fruit; such growth is only 
the natural effect of an abundance of sap, and 
although in some cases useful for old trees and 
for filling vacancies, it is certainly not necessary 
for young and vigorous trees, so that by applying 
a check at that time, we greatly assist the 
ripening of the wood, and keep the trees within 
bounds. Secondly, as to the manner in which 
the operation should be performed: that the 
necessity is ignored by some I am well aware ; 
that the operation is often improperly, or im¬ 
perfectly, or untimely performed is almost cer¬ 
tain ; but then, careless manipulation should 
be credited with the failure, and not the prac¬ 
tice itself, when carefully performed. Merely 
digging round the tree with a sharp spade or 
grafting tool, at a certain distance from the 
stem, is not enough, and I am led to the con¬ 
clusion from practice that the best method of 
all is to lift the tree very carefully, at the time 
specified, with all the roots and fibres that can 
be retained, and after cutting out the grosser 
roots, to replant the tree at once, and add a 
little fresh compost about the roots, well mulch¬ 
ing the surface after all is finished.— John 
Cox, BedleaJ. 
CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES: 
STRAY THOUGHTS AND 
EVER in the history of the Carnation 
and Picotee has there been recorded, or, 
I believe, experienced, such wholesale 
destruction as has been suffered in the South 
in the season now past. From May to Sep¬ 
tember, both inclusive, the rainfall averaged 
double the normal amount, with a constantly 
low temperature, and an almost sunless sky. 
Very natural^, in these abnormal conditions, 
the vitality of the plants was almost suspended. 
Gorged to repletion with moisture, and want¬ 
ing the stimulus of bright sun, the plants 
could not assimilate the food provided in such 
excess ; and lacking inspissation, the sap did not 
granulate in a degree sufficient to form roots, 
following the operation of layering. From 
every quarter in October I had complaint of 
this misfortune. Early in November, frost of a 
severity rarely paralleled, accompanied with 
dense fog, set in, and many stocks, caught thus 
before efficient protection could be given, suf¬ 
fered pitifully. In my own case, nearly one- 
half was destroyed. In the case of my friend 
and neighbour, Mr. Job Matthews, more than 
the half perished. Everywhere serious de¬ 
struction was suffered, and the most favourable 
reports record a loss of quite one-third of the 
SEASONABLE HINTS, 
stock grown. In these circumstances, it must 
be expected that good, healthy stocks of Car¬ 
nations and Picotees- will be for some time at a 
premium, and years will elapse before any¬ 
thing like profusion can be known of such varie¬ 
ties as Admiral Curzon, Sportsman, &c. 
Assuming the recurrence of similar unhappy 
conditions, it may be well to consider the treat¬ 
ment best fitted to redress or alleviate the evil. 
This will be found, I have not the slightest 
doubt, in the judicious use of a very gentle 
bottom-heat. When I lived at Derby, and could 
spend some time, though short, of every day 
in my garden, my practice always was at the 
close of September to put together a quantity 
of nearly dry and very slowly fermenting 
material, in preparation for the removal of the 
layers in early October ; and on the bed so 
prepared every plant was plunged, due care 
being taken to give sufficiency of air, and guard 
against excess of heat, and there left for from 
three to six days. Within that space the plants 
were fully established, saving only a few, such 
as Warrior, of abnormally slow-rooting habit, 
and thenceforth nothing was required save shel¬ 
ter from drenching rains and violent winds. 
Unfortunately, my vocation in these later 
