140 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
October 27, 1894, 
BORDER CARNATIONS. 
Autumn v. Spring Planting. 
This is a question that I have no hesitation in 
answering, as after fairly testing the merits of both 
in all sorts and conditions of seasons, I most 
decidedly prefer autumn as being the best time to 
plant border Carnations ; the first half of September 
(weather permitting), and the layers well rooted, 
which they ought to be then if layered in good time. 
If planted at that time in any good garden soil, they 
will before winter sets in have a good hold of the 
ground, and will be quite able to stand the test of a 
very severe winter. I grow considerably over i,ooo 
plants in something like ioo of the leading varieties, 
including yellow grounds. I also plant the majority 
of our show Carnations and Picotees at the same 
time, and find them to do equally as well as the border 
variety. The losses are few and can be set down as 
being weak and badly rooted when planted ; these of 
course are made good in spring with plants that have 
been in cold frames a'l winter, and can easily be 
singled out as the season advances as weaklings 
compared to those planted in September. 
Anyone who has not tried this system I would advise 
to do so, not this season certainly as it is now too 
late, but keep it in mind next year ; la) er early and get 
your plants well rooted in time, as I believe more 
failures result through putting out badly rooted 
plants, than through those causes mentioned by 
G ’’ at p. ioi. If the soil is inclined to be wet, I 
find a good plan is to raise the beds by throwing up 
the alleys to the depth of g in. between the beds, 
which is proof against almost anything short of a 
flood. 
The Carnation is one of the hardiest subjects we 
have, and why it should be propagated in the open 
ground and when rooted stored away under glass, is 
a question that wants more ventilation. To pot the 
plants in small sixties as suggested by " G.” takes 
time; to winter the large quantities that some 
of us have to grow takes room, both at a discount 
with most of us, and above all to keep a strong 
Carnation layer in a small sixty from October to 
March without unduly starving it is next to impossi¬ 
ble ; the roots have no room to ramble, and as a 
consequence the energy of the plant spends itself in 
a premature flower spike. Where it is impossible to 
plant in the Autumn owing to circumstance that we 
can’t sometimes control, instead of putting the 
layers in pots, it is much better to plant them, or 
lay them in a cold frame, where they will root 
freely, and lift with fine balls of fibrous roots in 
spring. Keep them as near the glass as possible, 
and giving abundance of air on all favourable 
occasions. The slight check they then receive, is 
hardly felt by the plants, provided a good watering 
is given, and dull weather chosen for the operation. 
I am well aware that many varieties are poor 
growers, plant them while you may ; some of these 
we can easily afford to dispense with altogether, as 
it is no use fighting away with plants that will 
neither die nor live ; the great point is to get a strong 
well-rooted plant to start with, when this is possible 
there is no difficulty in succeeding whether yellow 
grounds or not, in fact I find many of our choicest 
yellow self Carnations, and yellow ground Picotees, 
if properly rooted when planted, stand the winter 
much better than many of the pink rose or scarlet 
seifs. Germania I grow in large quantities and have 
no hesitation in saying that it is the best yellow 
self in cultivation, and, while doing well in the open, 
I also grow it in quantity in pots ; three strong layers 
in a 7 inch pot I find to answer well; I also pot a 
dozen or two of the choicest varieties. I treat them 
in the same way, getting them into flower earlier, 
and at the same time, I can with safety rely on 
getting a few pods of good seed which I sow as 
soon as gathered; by doing this the strongest of them 
will flower the following autumn, if well cared for. 
I have in flower at the present time some promising 
things from last season's crop. Most of the named 
varieties are nearly past, yet a few such as Duchess 
of Fife, Countess of Paris, Albert Whale, Fireball, 
Florence, Hotspur, Ketton Rose, Lady Agnes, Miss 
Abercrombey, Countess of Jersey, Romulus, Ruby 
Queen of Bedders. Mrs. P. Hole, Victory, Rose 
Unique, Stadtrath Bail, Border Maid, Border Lass, 
etc., are still very fine, Queen of Bedders, especially 
being very fine. 
This was one of the first to open, and will I think 
be the last to say farewell. It is undoubtedly one of 
the very best border Carnations grown, being very 
dwarf in habit, and generally one mass of bloom ; 
a good grower. And the colour, which is a salmon 
rose, is generally a great favourite with ladies ; it is 
not a burster, and can be cut with good long stalks 
which is a great point in its favour. The above 
varieties form a nice collection in themselves, and 
certainly quite won my favour at once, when I 
saw them growing in Mr. Forbes Nurseries at 
Hawick, who I may mention in passing informed 
me that he plants all his extensive collection in 
autumn, and always with the best results. When our 
brethren in the north have found success attend 
their labours by planting in autumn, where the 
climatic conditions, are generally more trying 
than in the balmy south, I think the most timid may 
take heart and at least give it a fair trial.— S. 
-—-— 
WINDOW GARDENING. 
To the close observer of life in the suburbs of our 
great cities, the attempts at gardening made by those 
people who, from the very force of circumstances, 
are placed at a great disadvantage are very amusing, 
and in many cases well nigh pathetic. In the heart 
of the city, too, surrounded on all sides by smoke 
and dirt, one often comes across a cherished friend 
in the window in the shape of a pot of Mignonette 
or other hardy plant of iron constitution, which, in 
spite of the incongruity cf its surroundings, seems 
to look genuinely happy. It forcibly illustrates how 
deeply the passion for flowers is engraved upon the 
heart of those inhabitants of our towns, who, less 
favoured than their more fortunate brethren of 
the country, have really no convenience for the 
culture of floral favourities. To the holder of 
villa and suburban gardens, who would like to grow 
flowers, but cannot, because he doesn't know how, 
the wide circulation of gardening literature should 
prove of the utmost service. 
The first step is to learn what is suitable, what 
plants are likely to grow in the neighbourhood. For, 
while there are plants which thrive, even in smoky 
districts, it does not follow that all will do so. 
Indeed, it would be only courting failure to catch 
hold of the first plant that pleases the eye, and to 
transplant it to the dull smoky districts of central 
London, or, in fact, to any other of our great cities. 
And yet it is quite natural that those who have a 
nice window in a favourable aspect should wish to 
render it as attractive as possible. I suppose no 
plant is so perfectly good-tempered as the old- 
fashioned scarlet Pelargonium. One may often see 
in the windows of a cottage belonging to some old 
woman, Pelargoniums bearing trusses of flower that 
put to the blush many of those grown in more 
favourable situations. It is very suitable either for 
growing in pots or for planting out in the window 
boxes. 
Amongst foliage plants for growing in pots, Ficus 
elastica, popularly known as the India-rubber plant, 
is most frequently met with. It puts up with the 
smoke very well indeed, but wants a bit of care and 
attention to keep it safely through the winter. Many 
nurserymen in the vicinity of London annually sell 
thousands of this plant for the purpose of adorning 
the windows of villas and flats, where its glossy, 
leathery-like foliage is held high in estimation. 
Fatsia japonica, syn. Aralia Sieboldii, may also be 
classed as a fairly good smoke-resisting subject, as 
is also Aspidistra lurida variegata. Both these last- 
named, however, require a warmer temperature to 
carry them through the winter than usually obtains 
in the windows of a dwelling-house during frosty 
weather. They must, therefore, be granted a posi¬ 
tion in the centre of the room during the prevalence 
of frosts or cold winds. 
Mention has already been made of Mignonette. 
This is notoriously easy to grow. Pots of two or 
three kinds of Rhodanthe look very pretty and are 
not difficult to look after. Amongst Ferns, some of 
the numerous crested and tasselled varieties of 
Scolopendrium vulgare and Lomaria (Blechnum) 
spicant are wonderfully pretty and effective. Some, 
indeed most of them, stand the smoke very well, and 
they are contented little plants generally. I remem¬ 
ber once seeing a fine little specimen of Aspidium 
falcatum var. caryotideum growing in a pot in a 
window of a house in Dalston. It seemed perfectly 
at home and really looked remarkably healthy. I 
remarked upon its presence at the time, and was 
told it gave but very little trouble. 
For growing in pots or baskets, or for planting in 
the window boxes, the pretty little Campanulas, C- 
isophylla and C. i. alba, take a lot of beating. They 
are not employed nearly so much as they deserve to 
be. Their graceful drooping habit, and the great 
profusion with which their pretty blue cr white 
flowers are produced, entitle them to a prominent 
place in the catalogue of window plants. 
Lysimachia nummularia, commonly known as 
Creeping Jenny, is a well-known British plant. It is 
of singularly graceful appearance, and wonderfully 
hardy. Its flowers are freely produced, bright yellow 
in colour, and from three quarters of an inch to an 
inch in diameter. This may be planted at the edge 
the window box and allowed to hang over or to 
ramble at will. 
During the summer considerable use may be made 
of the dwarfer varieties of Tropaeolum magus. 
These Tom Thumb Nasturtiums, as they are 
popularly called, are eminently suitable for the filling 
of window boxes. Their profusion of brightly 
coloured flowers will add a splendid touch of colour 
to even the dingiest brick or stone work, besides 
which they will grow almost anywhere. They do 
not require a rich soil and will stand as much 
drought as anything. One great pity is, however, 
that they are extremely sensitive to frost. A very 
few degrees will completely spoil their beauty. 
Amongst evergreens, varieties of Cupressus, of 
Thuja and of Buxus are very serviceable, although I 
would not advise the too liberal use of these plants, 
as this would only service to increase the apparent 
dinginess of the house. The golden-leaved Privet is 
a bright and serviceable little shrub, as is also its 
variegated congener ; but an occasional use of the 
pruning knife will be necessary to keep them within 
bounds. 
One of the finest floral displays that I remember 
ever to have seen, was afforded by the planting of that 
bright little Calceolaria Golden Gem. An edging of 
Lobelia speciosa var. completed an effect that was 
really gorgeous. The blue flowers of the Lobelia 
afforded a most striking contrast to the yellow of 
the Calceolarias behind them. I have seen many 
cases of the splendid contrast of colour afforded by 
the bringing together in close proximity of blue and 
yellow, but never one which was so strikingly effective 
as this I have mentioned. 
Another example which is quite good enough to 
copy, was formed by a tasteful arrangement of the 
white-flowered Marguerite, and the scented-leaved 
Pelargonium Lady Plymouth. An appropriate 
edging was in this case furnished by a number of 
pink-flowered, ivy-leaved Pelargoniums, which, 
hanging gracefully down over the edge of the box, 
looked really splendid. I might go on indefinitely 
giving examples of tastefully planted and effective 
window boxes. These, however, will suffice to 
show what can be done in a small way by the 
utilisation of even very humble and common subjects 
to brighten up and enliven the outside of our dwell¬ 
ing houses. 
-—- 
BEGONIA PRESIDENT CARNOT. 
A well grown specimen of this garden plant is a 
conspicuous object in the warm conservatory or 
intermediate house during autumn, winter and 
spring. It is one of Mr. Crozy’s acquisitions and 
said to be a hybrid between Begonia olbia and B. 
rubra, but there are differences of opinion, and some 
consider that B. coccinea is a more likely parent. 
The latter is generally known in gardens under the 
name of B. corallina, a name doubtless suggested by 
the red colour of all parts of the inflorescence inclu¬ 
ding the stalks and the ovaries. The leaves of Presi¬ 
dent Carnot are obliquely cordate-oblong, and pale 
green margined with red. The flowers are produced 
in large, pendulous cymes, and when the tall slender 
stems are trained to the rafters of a house or upon 
a trellis, the blossom hangs down in such a way as 
to be most conspicuous and attractive. The petals 
are of medium size, but they as well as the winged 
ovaries and foot stalks are rosy carmine and very 
handsome. The female flowers retain their fresh¬ 
ness for a month or more. Young plants may be 
brought along in pits during summer and taken to 
an intermediate house during autumn, when they 
will commence flowering. Old plants may be cut 
pretty hard back in July and encouraged to grow 
again ; keep them rather dry till they commence to 
grow again, when they may be repotted if necessary. 
They will commence flowering again in autumn. 
