April 14, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WOULD. 
521 
FLORICULTURE. 
Yellow Carnations. 
Evert lover of the Carnation will be pleased to learn 
that the veteran, E. S. Dodwell, has taken in hand the 
important work of improving the yellow types; whilst 
our leader is diligently striving for approximate per¬ 
fection in the yellow Carnation, let others of the 
Oxford Union follow the example of its founder. It is 
than rubbish resulted. I should state that a good 
strain of seed of yellow Carnations can now be obtained 
from the Continent, and I have succeeded in raising 
some highly promising flowers from the latter. Mr. E. 
Benary’s new deep yellow-self Carnation Germanica 
proves conclusively that we should not rate at too low 
a value, continental productions of this character. 
Now is the time to sow ; indeed, it should be done 
without delay. I would advise every young beginner 
to procure a collection of the best named varieties of 
I would particularly impress upon those who are 
entering the Carnation ranks, that they should raise 
seedlings, but that they should also be very careful not 
to be content with rubbish, which will only bring 
disappointment. Those who will have good seed of a 
reliable strain must expect to pay for it; but in so 
doing they will not be laying themselves open to the 
disappointment that is inevitable in the case of seed of 
an inferior character in point of quality.— William 
Wardill, Luton, Beds. 
Types of Narcissus. 
to be hoped the younger members of the Union will 
catch something of the enthusiasm that animates Mr. 
Dodwell. The main point is, can seed of a reliable 
strain of yellow Carnation be obtained ? It can. I say 
t, not from a desire to advertise Mr. Dodwell’s seeds, 
hut because it is a fact which may interest not a few 
Carnation lovers, that Mr. Dodwell has seed of his best 
yellow varieties—seed of such quality as is certain to 
produce good blooms. In times past it has proved a 
very difficult matter to procure reliable seed. I have 
many times purchased seeds from what might be 
considered the best sources. I have sown it, and 
waited a year for flowers, only to find that little else 
the yellow Carnation for the purposes of fertilisation, 
and so obtain seed from which to raise a batch of seed¬ 
lings. During a long life of toil, I have found my 
greatest solace in my garden ; and one of the most 
delightful occupations therein has been in sowing seeds, 
watching for their germination, the development of 
foliage,'the growth into flowering size of the plants, 
and the expansion of the blooms. During the summer 
of last year I was able to gather an abundance of 
Carnation blooms daily from early in July until the 
frost set in. At the present time, by the exercise of a 
little care and protection, I have a large number of 
plants now coming into flower. 
He-potting* Auriculas. 
Growers of Auriculas differ as to the best time of the 
year for doing this. As a rule, late potting is practised 
at the Royal Nursery, Slough ; but, as John Ball would 
say, he has to do it more when he can than when he 
would. The Rev. Mr. Horner advocates early potting— 
that is to say, doing it in May, when the plants have 
gone out of bloom. It is said by some that early re¬ 
potting causes the plants to throw up flowers in the 
autumn ; but over against that I put the statement 
that I have seen at Slough a good number of autumn 
■trusses of bloom on plants potted late. Besides, the 
Auricula has this “untoward Primulaceous trick,” as 
