504 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 10, 1886. 
according to the nature of the crop. Flower seeds, 
except for margins or lines, are better in circular or 
oval patches, to form clumps in the border amongst 
the permanent occupants.— E. A. E. 
-->*<-- 
THE CARNATION AND PIOOTBE * 
At last the lovers of these two popular flowers are 
favoured with a treatise on their history, characteristics, 
culture, &c., by one who can claim to write with 
authority, for he has put on record the results of a long 
and matured experience and ripe j udgment. In a short 
introduction, Mr. Dodwell states that “during many 
years, and of late in increasing numbers, I have had 
repeated applications to detail the treatment, charac¬ 
teristics, and the points or elements supposed to 
constitute value in the Carnation and Picotee regarded 
as subjects for the show table or decorative purposes.” 
Opportunity has recently been afforded him to collect, 
reprint, and issue such of his papers as appeared most 
to meet this requirement, and the result was the issuing 
of four monthly parts, now gathered together in a small, 
elegant, and exhaustive treatise, that we are sure will 
be gladly welcomed by cultivators of the Carnation and 
Picotee all over the country. It is dedicated to the 
promoters and supporters of the Carnation and Picotee 
Union at Oxford, comprising almost all the leading 
cultivators and raisers of the day. 
Let us sketch an outline of the work of a master 
hand. The book, deals first with the history of the 
Carnation as delivered to the Carnation and Picotee 
Society by W. Shirley Hibberd, in 1881. Then its 
management is dealt with in a series of monthly direc¬ 
tions as exhaustive as they are intelligently set forth. 
Then follow chapters on such topics as what constitutes 
excellence, dressing the flowers, why do Carnations 
run ? seedling raising, how to save seed, and diseases 
of the Carnations—chapters which sum up and put 
into concrete form a vast amount of observation and 
experience, to be gained only by a life-long knowledge 
of the flower. Then follows “scraps” of a practical 
and suggestive character, such as on packing plants 
and flowers, preparing flowers for exhibition, flower- 
boxes for exhibition, &c., so making the treatise a text¬ 
book for young beginners, and all set forth in an 
encouraging and kindly sympathetic tone, closing with 
an exhaustive descriptive list of Carnations and Pieotees 
of all classes, with much interesting historical informa¬ 
tion thrown in. Who is better fitted to write such a 
book than the veteran cultivator and raiser who has 
given fifty years of his life to the study of his favourite 
flower ? 
From such a useful and authoritative book one could 
take many extracts. Here is one which fully illustrates 
the generous spirit in which Mr. Dodwell would have 
schedules of prizes framed so as to impart as wide an 
interest as possible to the competition. He remarks on 
p. 85, “it is needless to say the cardinal rule will be 
the bringing together the largest possible number of 
competitors on equitable terms. To do this, the first 
requisite will be the date of exhibition. This should 
be the average day of full bloom of the largest number 
of cultivators within the area concerned. Then follow 
the terms of the competition and the amount of the 
several prizes. The late Mr. George Glenny laid it 
down as a rule for all special exhibitions, that there 
should be ‘few classes and many'prizes '—an axiom I 
heartily endorse. Limit the number of flowers in 
collections required to be produced to the power of 
the cultivators of smaller stocks, remembering the 
measure of strength of the whole is the power of the 
weaker, and see that the amount or values of the several 
prizes are divided by very fine lines only, and be so 
extended, as that seven-eights of the competitors (I 
would prefer to say every meritorious competitor) share 
in the awards. Nothing is more inequitable, nothing 
so surely provokes greed, and kindles heart-burnings 
and discontent, than the practice of large sums to one, 
two, or three competitors, number one seizing fifty per 
cent, of the whole, and leaving a distinct majority out 
in the cold. It is an unmixed evil, injuring alike 
those to whom it appears to give and those from 
which it withholds. Therefore, I recommend to my 
friends the good old rule, that the greatest good to 
the greatest number should be their aim.” 
* The Carnation and Picotee, its History, Properties, and 
Management, with a descriptive list of the best varieties in 
cultivation. By E. S. Dodwell. London: Groomhridge. Derbv • 
"W. Bacon. 3 
The principles herein laid down, Mr. Dodwell applies 
at the Oxford Exhibition, held in his grounds at the 
Stanley Road ; no exhibitor had an undue prepon¬ 
derance of First Prizes ; they were evenly regulated in 
regard to the amount, and no exhibitor was sent empty 
away, and yet it was a very fine and extensive show of 
flowers. 
The scrap on “Packing Plants” can be read by not 
a few nurserymen with advantage. Packing, i. e ., the 
sending of plants from a nursery is too often both 
slovenly and imperfectly done; the plants reach the pur¬ 
chaser in bad condition, and how can they be expected to 
grow and flower well afterwards. Mr. Dodwell prefaces 
his information by stating that the safe period for the 
removal of plants in the autumn, any time before 
Christmas is preferable to a later date ; and then he 
gives the following directions :—“Take the plant from 
the parent stool, permitting all loose soil to fall from 
the root, draw the foliage carefully together, and place 
upon a bed of loose well picked, dry moss, cover the root 
with a little half-decayed damp cocoa-fibre, roll in paper, 
tie, and pack compactly, so that injury from concussion 
cannot arise, and a journey of many day’s duration will 
do no harm. Yery different results may be expected to 
ensue, should the moss, plants, and soil be sodden with 
wet. Plants so treated should be washed, both root 
and foliage, and be allowed to drain nearly dry before 
potting. I regard it as a cardinal necessity, that plants 
subjected to change should from collar to end of root, 
be in a soil precisely of the same condition, for which 
reason I have never favoured transmission in pots.” 
-->K<-*—-- 
THE SHOW PELARGONIUM. 
Of the many kinds of greenhouse plants now in 
cultivation, it may safely be asserted that the Pelar¬ 
gonium is the most universally admired, its endless 
varieties, the beauty of its flowers, wealth of foliage and 
long continuance of bloom, rendering it so attractive, 
that it is always sought after as an ornament to the 
conservatory, the table, or the window. Therefore, 
every amateur should possess a few of the many varieties 
now in cultivation, and a few hints on the cultivation 
of this fine plant may be useful in spreading a know¬ 
ledge of its main cultural requirements. 
To insure success in the cultivation of Pelargoniums, 
they should have a greenhouse situated in a southern 
aspect, where it receives plenty of light and the full 
power of the sun, and they should at all times be kept 
as near the glass as possible. The best time for propa¬ 
gating them is the month of July, as the wood is then 
firm and ripe. Crown cuttings (that is to say, side 
shoots) are always preferable, as they strike more 
readily and make better plants. They may be cut to 
about 4 in. in length, the lower leaves be removed, and 
a clean cut made close under a joint. The cuttings 
should then be inserted in a thumb pot in a compost of 
fibrous loam and silver sand, sifted through a medium 
sized sieve, they should be pressed rather firm in the 
soil, placed in the house, and kept close until they 
have struck root, when they should be carefully cleaned 
the surface of the soil rubbed over with the finger and 
well watered, they will then soon start into growth. 
When the pots become nicely filled with roots, they 
should be shifted into large 60's in the same compost 
as before with the addition of one fourth of well decayed 
manure. Pot firm and keep close for a few days as 
before, then admit air freely, and when the roots have 
struck through into the new soil, the plants should be 
removed to a nice open position out of doors. 
Keep them well stopped to encourage a dwarf and 
bushy habit, and as soon as they are large enough they 
must be again shifted, this time into large 48’s or the 
strongest in 32 s, which size will be large enough to 
flower them in for ordinary purposes. The compost 
used should be three parts of yellow loam, one part of 
well decayed manure, and a good sprinkling of sharp 
grit or sand. Pot very firm and supply them with 
plenty of water during dry weather ; about the end of 
September they should be well cleaned and taken into 
the greenhouse, and whenever green-fly appears fumi¬ 
gate with as little delay as possible, choosing a still 
evening for the purpose. During winter the greatest 
caie must be taken when watering to keep the foliage 
dry ; the spout of the watering can should be kept 
close down to the pot, for if a leaf gets wetted it is 
sure to decay. They should receive an abundance of 
air during favourable weather, and no more fire-heat 
than is absolutely necessary as it only creates green-fly. 
‘When the bright days of spring appear an occasional 
syringing will be very beneficial, and they will require 
more frequent waterings. As soon as the bloom can be 
seen, they may have a little weak liquid manure about 
twice a week, increasisg the strength as the flowers 
develop, or they may have a top dressing of artificial 
manure. Clay’s Fertiliser is one of the most suitable 
manures for that purpose ; one teaspoonful to a 48 sized 
pot applied once in three weeks will be sufficient. As 
the plants increase in size they should be neatly tied out 
to stakes, and sufficient room be allowed each plant to 
admit of a free circulation of light and air all round 
them.— E. Benton , Junr. 
-->33<-- 
HARDY SPRING FLOWERS. 
Golden yellow is so dominant a hue in the early 
spring, that it is difficult to find flowers in great 
abundance capable of condoning this tendency. Just 
now that the Daffodil season is at its height, we find 
gardens flooded with the various shades of yellow 
which mark all the Narcissi tribe so strongly, and whilst 
welcoming the pure white of the Poeticus section as a 
relief, could much more readily rejoice over the addition 
of some reds and blues to the Daffodils were such 
variations of colour possible. There can be no doubt but 
that this exceeding sameness of hue does militate 
against the wider popularity of Daffodils, of all kinds, 
and even their most enthusiastic admirers may well 
turn from their cultivation at times to some other flower 
with satisfaction. As an easily raised tribe of plants, 
few can better counteract the monotony of the Daffodil 
than the fine border section of the Primula family, 
known as Fancy Polyanthuses ; amongst these, whilst 
finding also white and yellows in abundance, all have 
rich colours in reds, roses, purples, crimsons, &c., and 
strong plants give a great wealth of bloom, just at the 
time when yellow Daffodils are in bloom also though, 
perhaps, enduring longer. 
But whilst with the latter flowers we have to wait 
whilst bulbs increase, with the Polyanthus we have 
but to sow seed now and hundreds of plants, strong 
and full of bloom, will be our reward at this time next 
year; and if it be desired to quicken this season of bloom 
it is but to sow also seed of the rich coloured Primroses 
(now so plentiful), and an early month of bloom is added. 
Few who have not grown this class of early spring flowers, 
can realize how much of wondrous beauty can thus be 
obtained from a couple of packets of seed, an expen¬ 
diture now of a few shillings, giving as many pounds 
worth of plants in twelve months, and beauty that 
cannot well be measured by pecuniary considerations. 
Seed sown now in pans or shallow boxes and placed in 
a frame will very soon give plenty of strong plants, and 
may be transplanted into some spare and rather shaded 
piece of ground, as soon as the plants are strong enough. 
These occasionally watered to keep them growing, will 
make big plants to transplant into beds or borders, or 
wherever desirable during the autumn. Under the 
favourable conditions sometimes found, such plants will 
bloom all through the winter, and give a beautiful 
display of flowers during the spring months.— D. 
-- 
CACTUS DAHLIAS. 
The accompanying illustration of the fine new yellow 
Cactus Dahlia, Lady E. Dyke, is inserted in our pages 
for the double purpose of bringing under the notice of 
our readers a good novelty, worthy of the attention of 
those who admire these highly 7 decorative autumn 
flowers ; and of illustrating the modern method of 
arranging the flowers for exhibition, as adopted with 
such great advantage by Mr. Cannell and other exten¬ 
sive exhibitors at the metropolitan exhibitions, not 
only in the case of the section now for convenience 
called “ Cactus Dahlias,” but also with the Singles and 
Pompons. 
The Cactus Dahlias are all attractive, though some 
sorts, of course, like Juarezii, Constance, and Mrs. 
Hawkins, have become the most popular, having been 
some time in cultivation. In the new variety, Lady E. 
Dyke, we have a decorative sort of the first water, a free 
growing plant, bearing bright y 7 ellow flowers, of a most 
neat and pleasing form, and which is included among 
Mr. Cannell’s novelties for the present season. Of the 
superiority of the plan of showing these flowers in 
bunches, as indicated, over the old lumpy style, we 
need say nothing, so forcibly does it commend itself to 
all who appreciate good taste in such matters. 
