256 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
March  24,  1898. 
Tn  the  following  select  lists  the  Pompons  have  been  dealt  with  in 
a  similar  way  to  the  Shows  and  Fancies  in  the  tables.  In  the  case  of 
the  Cactus  and  Single  varieties,  however,  the  average  number  of  times 
they  were  staged  at  the  last  two  shows  alone  governs  their  relative 
positions  in  the  lists.  Those  marked  with  an  asterisk  are  new  sorts, 
the  positions  of  which  are  dependant  upon  the  number  of  times  they 
were  shown  at  the  last  exhibition  only. 
Pompons. — Bacchus,  Nerissa,*  Phoebe,  Tommy  Keith,  Arthur 
West,  G.  Brinckrnan,  Captain  Boy  ton.  Whisper,  E.  F.  Junker,  Eury- 
dice.  Admiration,  Isabel,  Emily  Hopper,  Douglas,*''  Ganymede,®  Lilian, 
Piosebud®,  Sunny  Daybreak,®  Darkness,  White  Aster  (Guiding  Star), 
Sunshine,  Favourite,  Bed  Indian,  Grace,  and  Mars. 
Cactus. — Matchless,  Earl  of  Pembroke,®  Gloriosa,  Lady  Penzance, 
Fusilier,®  Delicata,  Harmony,®  Mrs.  Wilson  Noble,®  Mrs.  Barnes,® 
Bertha  Mawley,  Mrs.  Peart,®  Bobert  Cannell,  Beatrice,®  Mrs. 
A.  Beck,®  J.  E.  Frewer,®  Starfish,®  Countess  of  Gosford,  Juarezii, 
Harry  Stredwick,®  and  Miss  A.  Nightingale.® 
Singles. — Yickoria,  W.  C.  Harvey,  Demon,  Miss  Boberts,  Phyllis, 
Beauty’s  Eye,®  Northern  Star,  Polly  Eccles,®  The  Bride,  Amos  Perry, 
Jack  Sheppard,  James  Scobie,  Gulielma,  May  Sharpe,  Miss  Glasscock, 
j\lrs.  Wythes,®  Duchess  of  Fife,  IMiss  Henshaw,  Airs.  Parrott 
Bosebank  Cardinal,  and  M.C.C. — E.  IVi.,  Berhhamsted. 
NAMES  AND  KINDS  OF  CARNATIONS. 
{Concluded  from  page  234.) 
This  dynasty  of  Dutch  Carnations  bore  sway  from  about  1680  till 
1740,  when  they  were  suddenly  dethroned  by  the  introduction  of 
French  flakes,  which  were  more  generally  known  as  Whole  Blowers, 
because  the  flowers  did  not,  like  the  “  Bursters,”  burst  open  their  pods. 
A  split  pod  was,  in  fact,  so  much  a  fault  that  the  more  expert  growers 
have  been  known  to  fill  up  the  slit  with  a  piece  of  green  silk  the  same 
shade  as  the  pod  itself.  A  bloom  3  inches  in  diameter  was  considered 
a  sufficiently  large  size.  The  petals  were  still  serrated  on  the  edges, 
bu«  instead  of  being  inflected,  they  were  “plain  and  circular  like  the 
leaves  (petals)  of  a  Provence  Bose.”  Hence  these  petals  were  called 
Bose-leaved.  About  1780  the  petals  lost  their  “  jagged  ”  edges,  and 
at  the  beginning  of  this  century,  from  many  coloured  engravings,  we 
know  that  the  florists’  Carnation  had  attained  a  condition  of  compara¬ 
tive  perfection.  The  Mr.  Pearson,  of  Chilwell,  of  that  day,  was  a 
famous  raiser  of  seedlings,  and  later,  about  the  forties,  Dr.  Horner  was 
a  leading  grower,  and  raised  many  fine  varieties,  including  yellow 
Picotees.  Self-coloured  flowers  are  rarely  heard  of,,  though  at  some  of 
the  exhibitions  prizes  were  offered  for  them.  On  the  Continent  many 
self-coloured  flowers  are  noted,  and  in  great  variety,  about  the  beginning 
of  the  century. 
In  cultural  matters  the  old  groovers  differed  in  some  items  from 
present  day  cultivators.  For  example,  they  layered  their  stock  at 
the  earliest  possible  moment.  From  the  “end  of  June  tilt  the  end  of 
July  ”  is  recommended  as  the  time  to  be  preferred.  Some  cultivators 
of  the  present  day  have  discovered  that  early  layering  is  an  important 
matter,  and  as  its  value  as  a  factor  in  obtaining  healthy  plants  becomes 
more  generally  recognised,  no  doubt  the  practice  will  become  general. 
Then  the  old  growers  were  most  particular  in  putting  down  short 
growths  only.  One  writer  says  “  two  joints  ”  is  sufficient ;  others 
agree  that  three,  or  at  most  four,  is  a  proper  number.  But  for  bedding 
out  there  is  nothing  gained  in  taking  short  layers.  So  long  as  they 
are  not  hard  I  have  no  objection  to  their  length,  as  the  production  of 
flowers  from  these  is  so  much  greater. 
Another  long-established  usage  was  the  removal  of  the  tips  of  the 
foliage.  Maddocks  shows  a  layer  ready  for  pegging  down,  every  leaf 
of  which  is  cut  hard  in.  It  is  a  practice,  so  far  as  my  experience 
goes,  more  honoured  in  the  breach  than  the  observance.  Then  the 
composts  !  Hogg’s  is  five  of  loam,  ten  of  horse  manure,  one  of  coarse 
sand.  A  hundred  years  earlier  two  of  loam  to  one  of  neat’s  manure  was 
the  proportion.  Ghnny,  who  was  Hogg’s  rival,  employed  a  compost 
much  like  the  last.  No  wonder  the  plants  were  often  unhealthy  and 
difficult  to  keep  ! 
It  is  a  curious  fact,  that  from  the  earliest  notices  we  have  of  the 
Carnation  onwards  till  the  present  day,  the  “finest”  sorts  have  been 
cultivated  in  pots,  and  protected  during  the  months  of  winter. 
Dryness,  both  at  the  rcot  and  in  the  atmosphere,  has  also  been 
considered  essential,  alike  to  the  health  of  the  plants  as  well  as  for  the 
ripening  or  maturation  of  the  stems  for  flowering  strongly.  Early 
spindling,  through  exciting  treatment,  is  fatal  to  success.  This  has 
always  been  guarded  against,  and  it  can  only  be  assured  by  dryness 
and  coolness,  or,  when  grown  in  the  open,  by  reducing  to  the  lowest 
limit  the  chance  of  moisture  doing  harm. 
The  question  of  scent  in  Carnations  is  one  that  has  always,  or  at 
least  for  a  very  long  period,  exercised  lovers  of  this  flower.  The  old- 
fashioned  plan  of  “  laying  bruised  Cloues  round  about  their  rootes  ” 
was  simplicity  itself ;  but  though  as,sured  that  this  was  a  certain 
method  to  “  make  Gillifloures  smell  like  Cloues,”  who  nowadays  so 
bold  as  put  it  to  the  test  ?  As  a  matter  of  fact  it  was  only  a  few 
varieties  among  many  that  at  any  period  were  possessed  of  the  true 
“  spicey  ”  scent  of  Cloves ;  such,  for  instance,  as  we  find  at  present  in 
the  old  iMalmaison  or  in  Buccleuch  Clove. 
It  was  assumed  by  some  that  a  deep  red  colour,  whether  the  flower 
was  a  self  or  the  colour  laid  on  in  stripes  or  in  spots,  was  essential  to 
any  variety  yielding  the  true  Clove  scent.  When,  however,  we  can 
turn  to  Lady  Nina  Balfour  or  to  INIons.  Magny  as  examples  of  flowers 
without  any'trace  of  crimson  possessing  a  Clove  scent,  it  wfill  be  seen 
that  crimson  is  not  essential.  A  point  worthy  the  attention  of  raisers 
is  whether  it  is  well  to  discard  every  flower  that  does  not  reach  the 
standard  that  for  so  long  has  been  received  as  the  one  to  aim  for. 
Lady  Nina  Balfour,  if  treated  with  the  severity  due  to  her  ragged 
petals,  would  on  no  account  be  grown,  nor’  would  Ruby,  Vivid, 
Alice,  nor  even  Duchess  of  Fife.  The  truly  wonderful  changes  which 
the  Carnation  has,  under  the  hands  of  enthusiasts,  passed  through,  are 
warrant  that  we  may  yet  have  our  gardens  rich  in  Gillyflo'wers  perfect 
in  habit  of  growth,  free-flowering,  and  in  not  a  few  with  the  Clove 
scent  fully  developed. — B.  P.  Bkotiierston. 
(DUNTY  COUNCIL  TRIALS  IN  SURREY. 
Having  recently  noticed  what  is  being  done  in  Worcestershire  in  the 
matter  of  fruit  and  vegetable  trials,  there  can  be  no  harm  if  I  briefly 
refer  to  those  which  will  be  conducted  in  Surrey  this  year.  We  have  no 
central  garden.  We  rather  prefer  to  play  the  part  of  Mahomet  and  go  to 
the  mountain,  or  in  other  words  the  people  interested  in  garden  trials. 
These  are  specially,  though  not  absolutely,  the  allotment  holders.  For 
that  reason  our  trial  grounds  are  ordinary  allotment  plots  situated  in 
prominent  positions  on  groups  of  allotments,  four  in  number,  in  different 
parts  of  the  county.  In  such  positions  the  allotment  holders  can  see,  from 
sowing  and  planting  till  the  clearing  of  the  crops,  all  that  takes  place,  and 
as  every  separate  crop  or  variety  is  legibly  named,  each  person  may  be  as 
wise  as  those  who  cultivate  and  crop. 
The  chief  trial  plot  this  year  will  be  that  at  Surbiton.  This  is 
on  one  side  of  the  main  entrance  to  the  District  Council’s  fine  area  of 
some  200  plots,  all  let,  and  generally  well  cultivated.  We  see  in  this  area 
how  allotments  are  appreciated.  The  trial  plot  is  faced  along  beside  the 
entrance  road  with  a  neat  flower  border  3  feet  wide,  now  planted  with  a 
tine  lot  of  seedling  Carnations  raised  from  Mr.  J.  Douglas’s  strains, 
also  with  Pansies,  Polyanthuses,  white  Columbines,  and  other  hardy 
plants,  and  there  will  presently  be  sown  also  annuals  to  furnish  additional 
summer  beauty.  The  ground  behind  is  about  27  feet  wide,  and  having 
been  trenched  the  previous  winter,  and  well  manured,  has  lately  been 
dressed  with  lime  sludge  from  sewage  works,  then  deeply  dug,  and  later 
farther  dressed  with  superphosphate  of  lime  and  kainit  at  the  rate  of 
4  ll)s.  per  rod.  Twenty  of  the  leading  varieties  of  Potatoes,  several  being 
quite  fresh,  will  shortly  be  planted  thinly  in  rows  30  inches  apart,  and 
nineteen  varieties  of  Peas,  dwarf  and  medium  height,  have  been  sown. 
These  include  the  very  best  varieties  of  wrinkled  Marrows,  generally  of 
about  3  feet  in  height,  that  could  be  obtained.  There  will  also  be  sown 
the  best  varieties  of  Dwarf  Kidney  Beans,  including  two  not  yet  in 
commerce ;  also  Scarlet  Runners  and  Longpod  Beans.  Most  of  the 
varieties  are  little  known  to  the  allotment  holders,  and  their  development 
will  be  closely  watched.  After  all  the  various  crops  are  well  through  a 
dressing  of  sulphate  of  ammonia  will  be  given  over  one  half  of  each  row 
and  an  equal  dressing  of  nitrate  of  soda  over  the  other  half.  It  is  in  this 
way  hoped  to  ascertain  to  some  extent  which  of  these  two  famous 
nitrogenous  manures  seem  to  be  the  more  fertilising. 
The  trial  plot  at  Richmond  is  situated  in  a  prominent  position  in  the 
centre  of  the  fine  group  of  Corporation  allotments,  a  group  that  is  second 
to  none  in  the  county.  The  soil  is  light  and  porous.  Having  been 
dressed  with  animal  manure  and  deeply  dug,  one  half  has  been  sown  with 
numerous  good  varieties  of  Peas,  several  rows  to  lie  on  the  ground,  and  others 
of  the  same  varieties,  with  various  others,  to  be  staked.  It  is  hoped  that 
the  value  of  staking  Peas,  where  stakes  are  dear,  will  be  fully  evidenced 
by  the  greater  produce  found  on  the  latter  rows.  The  other  half  will 
later  be  sown  with  several  fine  varieties  of  Onions,  Beets,  and  Carrots,  all 
the  best  strains  being  secured  for  this  purpose.  The  relative  values  of 
nitrate  of  soda  and  sulphate  of  ammonia  as  dressings  will  also  be  tested. 
The  ground  at  Bookham,^  some  24  rods  in  area,  kindly  presented  by 
Mrs.  Chrystie,  will  be  utilised’for  growing  Peas  and  Potatoes  for  continua¬ 
tion  school  gardens.  This  ground  being  rather  poor  has  lately  been 
dressed  with  animal  manure.  One  half  has  been  sown  with  some  half 
dozen  useful  Peas,  such  as  The  Daisy,  Senator,  Prince  of  Wales,  Dr. 
Maclean,  Magnum  Bonum,  and  one  or  two  others  ;  the  other  half  will 
be  planted  entirely  with  Potatoes.  Later  on  half,  longitudinally,  of  each 
side  will  be  dressed  with  sulphate  of  ammonia.  The  lesser  area  of  ground 
at  Egham,  which  is  very  sandy,  will  be  used  for  a  trial  of  Dwarf  French 
Beans  and  some  Potatoes. — A.  D. 
