THE GARDENING WORLD * 
April 23, 1904. 
340 
Mixed Shades.—Sonia of tlie mixed shade® of flowers are 
very pretty either by themselves or in contrast with others. 
The variety Hermita is veiy distinct in colour and properly 
described a,s a soft salmon-red shaded with rose and having a 
very conspicuous green star about half the length of the 
flower. The flower-scape carries four veiy large blooms which 
are much flattened out. The inner segments are obovate and 
remarkably broad and rounded at the top. Wei give an illmst- 
tration of a bloom of this variety to show the general outline 
'of a goo'd modem, flower. 
Several of those which we have already named are similar 
in shape to this; others are so open that they might be de¬ 
scribed as bell-shaped, but their true description would be 
that, however wide at the top, they are funnel-shaped at the 
base. The great width of the flower in this case has been 
obtained by the widening of the segments and the flattening 
cut of the tube. 
The flowers of Rodney are of large, size and salmon-red with 
a, white ray. That named Brabanto has four massive flowers, 
the outer segments of which measured 4J in. across. The 
inner segments are also very broad in proportion. The flower 
may be described as crimson-scarlet, shaded with rose, and 
having a, green central star with white rays. Cotorus bears 
two spike® with an aggregate of seven flowers. These are 
very fine and of a rich orange-red. Averunicus is a very wide 
bright scarlet flower, with conspicuous red raysl Altogether 
different is Nita., having soft rosy-salmon flowers, with white 
rays, reaching, as in many other cases 1 , above the middle of the 
flower. It is certainly a veiy pleasing light colour. 
There are several varieties in this collection which possess 
a distinct yellow hue in thei ground colour, one of which is 
that named Khaki, which has a, considerable amount of this 
hue in it, but. overlaid with a dusky tint, A prettier flower is 
that named Rhodesia, which lias a distinct yellow ground 
striped with red above the middlei of the segments. ’ v This 
plant carries four flowers, and the effect is both distinct and 
pleasing. Whether it is possible to get a clear yellow or a, 
golden-yellow in this race of plants still remains a doubtful 
point, but there can be no question, that it. would be a de¬ 
sirable acquisition, if it could be realised. The above two 
bloomed about, two years ago' for the first time. 
Border Carnations. 
There are no hardy flowers more deserving general cultiva¬ 
tion, than border Carnations,, which present, a charming 
diversity and brilliancy of colouring. Their value in a cut 
state, with a delicious perfume, are characteristics very much 
in their favour. They are becoming more popular eveiy season 
with amateurs and specialists alike. To, obtain the best re¬ 
sults well-rooted layers should be planted into their flowering 
quarters by the end of October, providing the grower has a, 
light, diy sandy loam to contend with. A great deal depends 
on. success in the selection of layers at planting time. 
If the soil is of a wet, cold pasty nature there is always a 
certain amount of risk in autumn, planting, especially with 
some of the weaker-growing varieties!, which should be wintered 
in pots and placed in a cold frame on nursery beds with the 
protection, of a wall. Over 1 these a board should be placed to 
ward off the rain, fixed sufficiently high as not to obstruct 
light and air, which is an essential point towards successful 
culture. 
September would be the time to pot those intended to be 
wintered in pots:, which ,should be potted singly in 3-in. potsi, 
using a compost of two parts loam, one part leaf-soil, and one 
part sand, taking care that, the pots are properly drained. 
After potting give a thorough watering and keep the frame 
close for a week or ten, days, when root action will have com¬ 
menced ; air should then be freely admitted. During thei 
winter months take full advantage of fine weather and entirely 
remove the. lights at every favourable opportunity. Great 
attention must be paid to watering, which must never be 
excessive; always keep the plants on, the diy side, or “ damp ” 
and “ spot ” will be the result, which will thin the numbers of 
some of the most-prized varieties. 
About the beginning of March the plants will show signs of 
growth, when they may with safety be given more water; by 
the end of March they should be transferred to their flowering 
quarters. Any good garden soil will suit Carnations, provid¬ 
ing it does not lie wet and sonr in the winter; if such is the 
case it should be thoroughly drained. A good sprinkling of 
old lime rubble mixed with the soil would prove beneficial. 
Much better results would be obtained by laying the bed up 
in ridge early the previous autumn, for exposure to the sweet¬ 
ening effects of frost during winter, and extermination of 
insect pests. A dressing of soot and lime thoroughly incor¬ 
porated with the soil would help, to destroy wireworm, so 
troublesome and destructive to' Carnation culture. If the 
soil is at all of a heavy nature an addition of leaf-soil and 
road-grit should be made. In planting, choose an open situa¬ 
tion and plant the layers 15 in. apart; plant firmly to the 
first pair of leaves. 
The past, winter has been a treacherous one tc the Carna,- 
tio-n grower, nothing but rain day after day, his energies having 
been severely taxed. Stagnant moisture is more fatal to Car¬ 
nations than cold, dry frosty weather. 
Keep the, beds thoroughly clean, and as the buds expand an 
occasional watering of liquid manure will prove beneficial. If 
the plants are required to produce large flowers the buds must, 
be thinned in their early stages, and means taken to prevent 
the calyx splitting by making two or three incisions with a 
sharp' budding knife the opposite: side to that which shows 
signs of bursting, and fasten a piece of matting or small 
elastic band round the bud, which will have the desired effect 
of keeping the petals together. Use neat stakes for support¬ 
ing the flower-spikes, which should not be longer than re¬ 
quired. I have found the improved wire coil stakes: most satis¬ 
factory ; they are not, unsightly, no tying is needed, and with 
care they will last for years. Wir. Jas. Penton. 
Studley Castle Gardens, March 18th, 1904. 
Cropping a Kitchen Garden- 
Rotation of Crops. 
I find it of great assistance to: arrange at this: time of the year 
a complete plan of cropping for the whole season, the object 
being to facilitate the work at a, busy time, and make the most 
of the ground by ensuring a good system of alternate crop¬ 
ping and the classification and assignment- of different sorts of 
vegetables to the best positions. For this purpose the first- 
thing t'O' do is: to take a rough sketch or plan of the garden, and 
make a, note of the existing crops and the ground they occupy, 
so a® to know when the ground is, likely to fall vacant. This 
done, the full extent of ground for the earliest, as well as main 
crops can be allotted out. 
Presuming that by the beginning of March all vacant, ground 
has been well matured and dug, it will be easy to call to mind 
the: exact positions of last season’s crops, and thereby avoid a 
repetition of the same again, for I believe that the variation 
of crops is a sound principle to' work upon, and each crop 
should be as dissimilar as possible from the preceding one. 
The ground that last year grew Parsnips, Carrots 1 , or any tap- 
rooted crop should be succeeded by those of a, fibrous-rooted 
one, or vice-versa. It is acknowledged generally that a succes¬ 
sion of crops of the same kind will impoverish the soil much 
more than the variation or rotation system, and the crops 
are likely year by year to become deteriorated, although heavy 
manuring may in some measure improve the fertility of the 
soil. It. will be found an advantage to classify the main crops 
by sowing Parsnips, Carrots, Beetroot, Salsafy, Turnips', 
Onions on one plot of ground one after the other. The same 
may be said of Brussels Sprouts', the different sorts of Broccoli, 
Cabbage, winter and spring Greens, all of which occupy the 
ground for the greatest length of time; the ground then 
becomes vacant in. more regular order. Peas, Beans, Potato®, 
