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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
April  4,  1901. 
Carnations  and  Picotees  for  Show. 
Few  flowers  are  admired  more  than  Carnations,  and  as  a  hobby  no 
subject  of  the  garden  gives  greater  pleasure  than  their  culture  for 
exhibition.  The  selection  of  varieties  is  so  extensive,  and  the  plants, 
even  when  not  in  bloom,  are  so  interesting  to  the  florist,  that  they 
never  cease  to  retain  our  appreciation.  The  Carnation  is  an  easy  plant 
to  grow,  yet  we  know  none  more  readily  spoiled  by  careless  treatment 
or  too  muoh  coddling.  Many  fail  with  them  during  the  winter  months, 
the  foliage  being  an  easy  prey  to  “  spot  ”  if  kept  at  all  damp,  and 
maggots  attack  the  plants.  Generally  the  stock  looks  well,  and  it  is 
only  exceptionally  weak  varieties  like  that  oharming  yellow-ground 
Picotee  Mrs.  Robert  Sydenham,  or  the  beautiful  salmon-pink  self 
Endymion,  that  do  not  keep  their  healthy  appearance  during  the  winter. 
The  last  named  should  not,  perhaps,  be  termed  weakly,  because  it  grows 
well  in  summer  time,  but  if  maggot  or  “  spot  ”  in  the  leaf  attack  any  in 
winter  this  is  about  the  first  sort  that  succumbs.  The  Carnation  for 
show  purposes  is  treated  as  a  pot  plant,  but  it  is  hardy  enough  to  stand 
the  winter  in  open  ground.  With  open  air  plants,  however,  one  cannot 
produce  clean,  well-shaped,  high-coloured  blooms  to  win  prizes  with 
any  degree  of  certainty.  One  might  mention  exceptional  instances  of 
its  being  done,  still  pot  culture  is  generally  adopted.  To  start  from  the 
present  time  it  is  necessary  to  have  sufficient  plants  well  established  in 
small  pots — plants  that  have  wintered  in  the  same,  for  the  Carnation 
will  not  stand  the  roots  being  disturbed  after  autumn  with  impunity. 
These  are  ready  in  spring  to  be  put  into  the  flowering  pots.  In  our 
case  9-inoh  pots  are  used,  and  three  plants  are  put  into  each.  This 
rule  is  broken  in  the  case  of  very  weakly  growers,  which  are  either 
placed  four  in  a  pot,  or  two  are  placed  in  a  6-inch  pot.  We  sometimes 
think  that  it  would  be  well  to  grow  even  the  strong-growing  sorts  one 
in  each  6-inch  pot,  but  we  adhere  to  our  usual  way  as  a  saving  in  labour 
and  space.  The  compost  used  is  the  best  and  most  fibry  loam  obtainable, 
dry  cow  manure  run  through  a  sieve,  and  broken  brick  rubble.  Two- 
thirds  of  the  former  is  the  proportion  used.  A  sprinkle  of  bonemeal  is 
advised  in  the  case  of  the  strong-growing  seifs  and  the  fancy  varieties, 
but  not  for  the  old  florists’  olass,  the  bizarres  and  flakes. 
Drain  .the  pots  well,  for  there  is  nothing  Carnations  dislike  so  much 
as  sodden,  sour  earth.  After  potting  keep  the  plants  under  glass,  and 
for  a  week  or  two  do  not  give  water,  especially  if  the  compost  is  moist, 
as  it  should  be  at  this  time  of  the  year.  New  growth  will  quickly  form. 
One  must  be  very  careful  in  the  watering,  so  as  not  to  employ  any 
except  when  the  soil  is  dry,  and  then  to  give  enough  to  soak  the  whole 
of  the  soil  in  the  pot.  An  occasional  stirring  of  the  surface  soil  is 
performed  when  it  has  a  tendency  to  become  caked.  Each  flower  shoot 
may  have  a  neat  stick  to  support  it,  and  the  plants  are  placed  in  the 
open  air  towards  the  end  of  April.  Previous  to  this  the  sashes  are 
taken  from  the  frames  during  favourable  weather.  Place  the  pots  on  a 
firm  bottom,  where  worms  cannot  get  into  the  drainage. 
For  a  month  or  so  there  will  be  plenty  to  do  in  watching  the 
development  of  the  flower  buds.  These  may  be  thinned  ;  three  or 
four  (the  last  number  on  the  strongest)  may  be  left  for  each  plant  to 
develop.  If  any  stimulant  is  needed  we  employ  it  whilst  the  buds  are 
swelling ;  we  favour  the  use  of  liquid  made  from  sheep  droppings. 
This  is  of  a  cool  nature ;  it  does  not  burn  the  roots,  and  when  used  in  a 
weak  state  regularly  seems  all  that  is  wanted  to  provide  a  healthy  and 
vigorous  tone  to  Carnation  growth.  Our  only  serious  enemy  in  the 
south  is  thrip ;  it  gets  into  the  calyx  even  before  the  same  begins  to 
burst,  and  effectually  spoils  the  outer  petals  by  taking  the  colour  out 
of  the  edges.  For  this  reason  the  plants  are  housed  early  and  fumigated 
often.  We  said  that  this  was  the  only  enemy,  but  a  serious  drawback 
to  southern  growers  is  the  intense  hot  weather  just  at  the  time  the 
blossoms  are  opening.  In  most  seasons  we  find  the  vivid  scarlet  and 
dark  shades  get  burned,  even  when  a  dense  shade  is  employed. 
In  the  matter  of  good  varieties  there  is  an  ample  supply,  but  no  one 
who  desires  to  win  prizes  in  good  competition  can  afford  to  be  without 
any  of  those  named  below.  There  are  so  many  divisions  of  Carnations 
and  Picotees  demanded  at  exhibitions,  that  it  will  be  well  to  keep  the 
same  in  order.  Fancy  Carnations :  Brodick,  Cardinal  Wolsey,  Czarina, 
Galileo,  Guinevere,  Hidalgo,  Monarch,  Perseus,  Phoebus,  Queen  Bess, 
Voltaire,  and  Zingara.  Self-coloured  Carnations  :  Bendigo,  Benbow, 
Enchantress,  Exile,  Germania,  Lady  Hindlip,  Lady  Hermione,  Mrs. 
Eric  Hambro,  Mrs.  James  Douglas,  Trojan,  Sadek,  and  Uncle  Tom. 
Scarlet  bizarres:  Robert  Houlgrave,  Robert  Lord,  and  Admiral  Curzon. 
Crimson  bizarres:  Master  Fred,  Lord  Salisbury,  J.  S.  Hedderley.  Pink 
and  purple  bizarres  :  William  Skirving,  Sarah  Payne,  and  Arline. 
Scarlet  flakes :  Sportsman,  John  Wormald,  Guardsman.  Rose  flakes  : 
Thalia,  Merton,  Mrs.  Rowan.  Purple  Jlakes :  Gordon  Lewis,  George 
Melville,  Charles  Henwood.  Yellow-ground  Picotees :  Empress  Eugenie, 
Heatherbell,  Hesperia,  His  Excellency,  Hygeia,  Lady  St.  Oswald, 
Moluoan,  Mr.  Nigel,  Mrs.  Douglas,  Mrs.  Tremayne,  Mrs.  Sydenham, 
and  Onda.  White-ground  Picotees,  red  edge :  Gamymede,  Isabel  Lakin, 
Thos.  William,  Mrs.  Gorton;  purple  edge:  Muriel,  Amy  Robsart, 
Somerhill,  Harry  Kenyon  ;  rose  edge:  Little  Phil,  Mrs.  Payne,  Fortrose, 
Favourite;  scarlet  edge :  Mrs.  Sharp,  Clio. — H.  S. 
Hardy  Spring-flowering  Ericas. 
The  Erioas  that  flower  in  the  open  air  during  winter  and  early  spring 
are  all  very  attractive  plants,  and  in  places  where  peat-loving  shrubs 
thrive  they  are  the  most  useful  of  the  various  very  early  flowering 
shrubs.  There  are  numerous  other  plants  that  make  a  fine  show, 
providing  no  frost  occurs  whilst  they  are  in  flower,  but  frosty  or  not, 
the  Erioas  care  little,  the  flowers  being  as  bright  and  healthy  looking 
after  a  spell  of  frost  as  they  were  before  ;  this  faot,  together  with  their 
lengthy  flowering  season,  warrants  them  a  considerable  amount  of 
attention  when  a  selection  of  dwarf  shrubs  is  being  made.  The  hardiest 
are  E.  carnea  and  mediterranea,  with  their  respective  varieties.  Then 
for  sheltered  places  there  are  the  slightly  tender,  taller-growing  species 
arborea,  australis,  and  lusitanica.  E.  carnea  is  a  well-known  European 
species,  growing  6  inches  high,  and  making  a  dense  carpet,  which  from 
the  end  of  February  onwards  is  a  perfect  mass  of  reddish  flowers.  As 
a  companion  plant  to  this  the  white  flowered  variety  should  always  be 
found.  E.  mediterranea  is  found  in  Western  Europe  and  Ireland.  It 
grows  several  feet  in  height,  and  bears  upright  racemes  of  bright  red 
nodding  flowers  in  profusion.  A  variety  known  as  E.  hybrida,  probably 
claiming  E.  carnea  and  E.  mediterranea  for  parentage,  is  the  most 
useful  of  the  hardy  Heaths,  as  it  commences  to  flower  in  December, 
and  continues  to  do  so  until  April.  It  grows  almost  a  foot  high,  and 
bears  bright  red  flowers.  Other  varieties  are  alba  and  glauca,  the 
former  having  white  flowers,  the  latter  glaucous  leaves. 
Of  the  other  species  E.  arborea  makes  a  large  bush  10  feet  high, 
and  bears  white  flowers  from  February  to  May.  It  is  a  S.  European 
plant.  E.  australis  is  a  Spanish  species,  growing  4  or  5  feet  high, 
bearing  red  flowers  very  freely.  It  is  a  very  ornamental  plant. 
E.  lusitanica  is  a  beautiful  plant,  making  tall,  upright  shoots  with  very 
dark  coloured  leaves,  among  which  pure  white  flowers  are  produced 
in  profusion.  Its  period  of  flowering  is  February  to  May. — W.  D. 
- - 
Edinburgh  Botanical  Garden. 
The  Plant  Houses. 
A  few  years  ago  the  site  on  which  the  handsome  range  of  glass, 
shown  in  the  accompanying  illustration,  stands  was  occupied  by  heavily 
built  and  old-fashioned  houses,  for  the  most  part  glazed  with  small  glass 
and  ventilated  by  sliding  sashes.  It  is  not  on  these  conditions  that 
visitors  of  the  present  day  are  asked  to  look,  but  on  substantial,  yet 
elegant  structures,  filled  with  numerous  plants  representative  of  all 
sorts  and  conditions  of  vegetation.  The  houses  were  built  by  Messrs. 
Mackenzie  &  Moncur,  and  when  this  is  stated  there  is  little  need  to  add 
that  they  are  perfect  in  construction,  ventilation,  and  beating  arrange¬ 
ments.  The  range  has  a  southern  exposure,  and  consists  of  a  large 
central  cool  conservatory  with  two  corridors  on  either  side,  from  which 
branch  off  at  right  angles  four  span-roofed  houses  devoted  respectively 
to  succulents,  economic  plants,  Orchids,  and  stove  plants.  The  entire 
range  is  not  completed,  for  there  are  end  houses  to  be  constructed, 
where  old  buildings  stand  at  present  used  as  ferneries,  but  work  like 
this  cannot  be  completed  in  a  day.  Teak  is  employed  throughout,  and 
the  framework  strengthened  by  ornamental  iron  brackets,  combining 
strength  with  lightness.  The  houses,  which  are  painted  a  light  green 
inside,  have  central  beds  with  paths  around  and  stages  for  pot  plants. 
The  beds  are  about  4  feet  in  depth,  and  are  filled  with  soil  suitable  for 
the  requirements  of  the  various  olasses  of  plants.  Thus  that  employed 
in  the  succulent  houses  consists  largely  of  sand,  broken  Btones  and 
brioks  ;  large  plants  of  Agaves,  Aloes,  Cereus  giganteus,  Euphorbias, 
are  here,  while  various  night-flowering  Cereus  clamber  about.  A  large 
specimen  of  the  slow-growing  Dracaena  Draoo  is  noteworthy,  while 
Nolina  or  Beaucarnea  reourvata,  which  has  a  fine  head  of  pendulous 
foliage,  is  very  graceful.  Agave  attenuata  has  now  opened  its  yellow 
blossoms. 
The  economic  houses  are  perhaps  the  least  interesting  of  all  to  the 
casual  visitor.  Great  virtues  are,  however,  hidden  beneath  the  contour 
of  some  of  these  unattractive-looking  plants.  That  is  why  they  are 
here.  The  Granadilla  is  making  rapid  growth  towards  the  flowering 
stage.  Rubbers,  spices,  medicinal  food,  and  other  plants  useful  to  man, 
are  to  be  found  in  the  economic  houses. 
Then,  in  the  central  conservatory  a  place  is  found  for  many  green¬ 
house  subjects  both  common  and  uncommon.  The  central  bed  is 
devoted  to  Rhododendrons,  among  whioh  a  large  plant  of  R.  arboreum — 
an  original  seedling  raised  by  the  late  James  Cunningham,  Comely 
Bank,  Edinburgh — rises  pre-eminently.  The  best  plant,  however,  in 
the  house  is  a  large  specimen  of  an  ornamental  Cape  Rush,  the  beautiful 
and  feathery  Restio  verticillatus.  There  are  beds  of  Acacias,  Camellias, 
