6 
gentleman pronounces: ‘The properties of 
form are similar to those of the Carnation , 
but the distinction between Carnations 
and Picotees is that the color of the tor- 
mer is disposed in unequal stripes going 
from the centre to the outer edges, and 
that of the Picotees is disposed on the 
outer edges of the petals, and radiates in- 
wards, and the more uniformly this is dis- 
posed, the better. The choicest varieties 
of both these flowers are named, ai.d new 
ones, raised from seed, are constantly ap- 
pearing in the nurseryman’s advertise- 
ments. 
“The wild Carnation, like several other 
species of Dianthus or Pink, is found grow- 
ing luxuriantly on the tops of walls and 
similar arid spots. In the South of Europe 
the garden Carnation is treated accord- 
ingly, and delights the casual passenger by 
displaying pendent heads of flowers in un- 
looked-for sites. The fact gives a hint in 
respect to culture; Carnations are injured 
by too much moisture. In beds they are 
usually grown in light, rich mould, com- 
posed of calcareous loam, silver sand, leaf 
mould, and rotten cow dung. A 1ady be- 
trayed the secret of her great success with 
Carnations by setting her foot on the bed, 
wherein it sank ankle-deep. Perhaps the 
good drainage thereby insured was literally 
at the bottom of her triumphs, for pot 
Carnations have mostly the earth pressed 
firmly about them. Propagate, and also 
maintain the excellence of, good kinds, by 
layering every ‘year after the flowering 
season. Make a slight slit in the under- 
side of the shoot, at the point where it 
will be imbedded in the earth, immediately 
below a joint or bud. Keep the slit open 
‘with a small slip of wood, peg the layer 
down with a small hooked stick, and cover 
it with light earth.’ I have quoted the 
above instruction because modern Carna- 
tion fanciers cannot fail to be considerably 
amused by them. Let us note one or two. 
of the quaintest points. 
The description of the Picotee given’ by 
' Glenny is somewhat different to ‘the ¢on- 
cise scientific description given to-day, 
which runs thus: “Picotee: “Ground color 
of one shade, edged with another celor.” 
The notion of growing the garden Car- 
nation on the tops of walls, to supply “ pei. 
dent heads of flowers in, unlooked- for sites” 
to delight “the casual passenger,” is surely 
enough to provoke the rage of the Carna- 
tion enthusiast. The hint as to the neces. 
sity of good drainage may be taken, with- 
out our imitating the lady whose foot sank 
ankle deep in the flower-bed. — Las: ly, it 
would be interesting to learn the percent- 
age of failures in the layering of carnations 
by that method of “keeping the slit open 
by a small slip of wood.” . 
’ A modern, excellent little work on’ the 
Carnation tells us that a “Flora,’ publish- 
ed in 1702, gave a list of no less than three 
hundred and sixty varieties of the “July” 
or “Gilli-flower,’ most of which were of 
Dutch origin, and stated the usual’ price of 
a good layer of a named kind was twelve 
pence, and that though the Dutch and 
Flemish growers were able to raise such] 
fine varieties from seed, it could not be 
THE AU TRALIAN GARDES ER. 
done in this country, as the plants raised 
from such seed as could be procured here 
produced, ag a rule, only ange or imper- 
fect blossoms. 
Growing seedling Cariatirie is, I think, 
one of the most fascinating of all floricul- 
tural pursuits. What an excitement it is 
when the new young plant begins to form 
“fat” buds, and how eagerly do we watch 
for the first colour streak! We love the 
plants all the more becuse we have had to 
cherish them during a whole year of, what 
non-enthusiasts might call, uninteresting 
babyhood ! 
Seedlings that are raised later than May 
ought to be wintered in a frame, because 
though they may stand the winter all right 
out in the open, the cold will probably 
check their healthy development, whereas 
in frames they can keep on growing. 
Seedlings, too, bloom more freely than 
do plants from layers, and are seldom at- 
tacked by disease or wireworms. There 
are few flowers that are so well adapted for 
growing as a hobby by the humbler gar- 
dener, for even the choicest seed is cheap, 
considering howmany really splendid plants 
may result from sowing it. I advise gar- 
deners to write, as coaxingly as they know 
how, to some of the noted raisers of Car- 
nations, enclosing postal-orders, of course, 
but asking for “specially good seed.” There 
is a spirit of comradeship among all Carna- 
tion lovers that may cause the great culti- 
vator to spare a few of his best seeds to the 
amateur grower. I only say “may cause,” 
it will be noticed, but the seed offered by 
Carnation specialists is certain to be satis- 
factory.’ 
Of course, it is more scientific to pur- 
chase plants of named varieties, hand-hy- 
bridise one’s own seed, making promising 
crosses, and thus set about obtaining kinds 
that shall be fit for cataloguing. Colour, 
markings, and form must all be excellent 
before a Carnation ig worth naming; the 
petals ought to be thick, shell-like, evenly 
set in the flower, and have rounded out- 
lines. Then the pods, or calyxes, ought 
not to split, and the habit of the plant 
should be satisfactory. 
iBut’ what a woeful circumstance it is 
when, having at last raised what seems 
likely to be a Carnation worth a position: 
in the market, that same Carnation refuses 
to form any shoots that can be layered. 
Truly the Carnation-growing hobby is a 
delightful one, full of excitements and pos. 
sibilities. 
Hoppy GARDENER. 
JAPANESE PINKS. 
This race of most beautiful garden bien- 
nials also enjoys the name of “Flower of 
the Gods,’ which it well deserves,when the 
elegant forms and splendid colouring of 
tha blooms are taken into consideration. 
Amateur gardeners have, apparently, 
overlooked these easily-grown Pinks, as 
they do not appear to be often made use of 
for bedding purposes. Yet for this alone— 
to say nothing of their suitability when 
cut for bouquets and room decoration— 
they are really indispensable. 
June 1, 1904 
For richness and variety of colourmg 
Japanese Pinks are hard to beat. The 
flowers are large and beautifully tinted, 
ranging from white through various shades 
to the deepest and richest of crimsons. 
Although they are biennials, yet, if the 
seed is sown in heat, in February, the 
plants will flower during the summer. 
A packet of seeds of the best mixed col- 
ours should be obtained, and it will be am 
endless source of pleasure to the grower te 
watch the development of the plants and 
the slowly-expanding blossoms.  Some- 
times in these mixed seedlings one comes 
across a novelty, either in shape or colour- 
ing, which would be worth keeping. 
To those who possess sandy or clay soils, 
the Dianthus should specially appeal’, as; 
even if planted in the full glare of the sum 
(in which they delight), their needs as re- 
gards watering, or any other attention, are 
very small. In fact, these handsome 
plants might be appropriately named the 
“Liazy Gardener’s Flowers.” 
As to cultivation, the time for early sow~ 
ing in heat, to get the plants to bloom the 
same year, has already long since gone by- 
The best time for sowing in the open gar- 
den is the end of June or the commence- 
ment of July. Choose a nice oper 
position for.the seed-bed, and make the 
drills about one inch deep and six inches 
apart, then fill the drills about level with 
the surface of the ground with finely-sifted 
soil. Next sow the seeds thinly, and 
lightly sift a little more soil over them 
An important point is to shade the beé 
during germination, and then gradually 
accustom the seedlings to the full sunshine_ 
Tf all goes on well, the young Pinks 
should be ready to placa in their perma- 
nent quarterd during August. But should 
the beds which they are to occupy not be 
ready, the plants had better be trans- 
planted to another part of the garden, asi 
if the Pinks become crowded in the 
nursery bed they are liable to become 
lanky, sappy,and ungainly in form, instead 
of short, sturdy,and compact plants, which 
can the more readily survive the rigour of 
an English winter. 
There are other yarieties of these most 
beautiful biennials, viz., the Chinese and 
Indian Pinks, both of which are very simi- 
lar in character, and the same treatment 
as recommended for the Japanese sectiom 
will suit these also. : 
Should any reader desire to grow the 
named varieties, he will find the following 
about the best of the Japanese Pinks:— 
Crimson Belle, with large flowers of a 
splendid crimson; Eastern Queen, with 
large and handsome rose-colourled’ blos- 
soms; Empress, with attractive flowers of a 
vivid crimson; and the Bride, a good white 
with pink centre. All these Pinks have 
been so much improved during the last few 
years by our English: florists ‘and growers, 
that I fancy they will, in the future, usury 
the position of our old-fashioned gardem 
Pinks. [No! Ep.] | The average height is- 
one foot, and, as a rule, they will be fund 
to come very true from seed. 
EH. H. Porrsr.. - 
