General Culture Out Of Doors

That the Carnation may grow luxuriantly it must have an aspect sheltered from cold winds, free exposure to sunlight, a rich and perfectly-drained bed, that has been previously enriched with well-rotted cow-manure, and the soil trenched at least 15 inches deep. The bed should contain a good percentage of rich fresh loam taken from old pasture, which has been rotted in a heap, and frequently turned before being mixed with the bed. The ground should be trenched in the autumn, and allowed to lie rough until early the following March, when it ought to be forked and levelled down, and the plants put in in rows, 1 foot apart in the rows, and 14 inches between rows. Should severe frost set in after planting, the plants must be protected by means of hoops extended across the bed, and a covering of mats securely put over them. When the flower-stems have advanced in growth a bit, have them all secured to neatly-dressed stakes, tying them at intervals, as they require, to prevent the wind breaking them; and should the weather prove dry and hot, an occasional watering of weak liquid manure will aid in improving the quality of the flowers.

Stir the surface now and then, and keep the ground free of weeds.

As the blossoms approach opening, it will be found that a number of the more double kinds show a tendency to rend their calyx by being too severely distended. To obviate this it is necessary to tie a thread of matting securely around the calyx, which will be quite hid when the flower expands, and the character of the flower preserved.

Propagation By Pipings

The general fault and reason for failure by this mode is the season being too far advanced before the pipings are put in; and it will be found that propagating by this mode can be turned into a success if the pipings are put into gentle heat at the time when the plant shows a disposition to grow, instead of waiting until the usual time for layering. In preparing the pipings they ought to have the lower leaves cleanly cut away close to the stem, and the shoot cut across below the second or third joint; and without allowing them to flag in any degree, have them inserted into a rather firmly prepared bed of sand and leaf-mould, with a thin covering of sand over the surface. A gentle bottom-heat is essential, and the bed previously watered, but the superfluous water drained off. The house or frame must be kept both close and shaded, and moderately moist, until the pipings are rooted, which will, in all probability, be in three weeks or a month.

By Seed

Sow the seed in October in well-drained pans, in light porous soil, and place in greenhouse temperature over winter; put the seedlings into small pots when they have reached a size making them capable of being handled; repot, if necessary, in the spring, and plant out at the latter end of April; and the most of them will flower before September.

Tree Carnations

These are best multiplied early in the spring, when they root with speed, and with few failures. The plants should be potted without delay, into sizes of from 4 to 6 inches diameter, according to the extension of the ball of soil adhering to them when taken out of the cutting-bed. Allow them generous diet, but the prevailing material in the compost must be fresh fibry loam; second to loam in importance, is a sufficiency of properly reduced cow-dung; drain extra, and pot firmly, without ramming. Repot as soon as the roots net the exterior of the ball, repeating the same again and again, to whatever size of pot the roots require to contain them. Have no thought of limiting the size of pot to induce the plant to flower; flowers will come by-and-by, and the bigger the plant the greater the success both in size of blossoms and in numbers.

Selections From The Best Collections

Scarlet Bizarres

Admiral Curzon (Easom), Coriolanus (May), Dreadnought (Daniels), Duke of Wellington (Bragg), Lord Derby (Heap), Oliver Goldsmith (Turner), Splendid (Martin), William Pitt (Puxley).

Crimson Bizarres

Black Diamond (Haines), Eccentric Jack (Wood), a magnificent flower of large size, finely marked; Graceless Tom (Wood), Hope (Puxley), pretty; Lord Raglan (Bowers), fine; Phidias (Wood), Rifleman (Wood), in crimson bizarres one of the most beautifully marked; The Lamplighter, another splendid flower, by the same raiser as Rifleman (Wood).

Pink And Purple Bizarres

John of Gaunt (May), Masterpiece (Schofield), Purity (Wood), Shakespeare (Puxley).

Purple Flairs

Dr Foster (Foster), Earl Stamford (Elliott), Florence Nightingale (Sealey), Mayor of Nottingham (Taylor), True Blue (Taylor).

Scarlet Flakes

Annihilator (Jackson), Christopher Sly (May), Illuminator (Puxley), first-rate; Marshal St Arnaud (Puxley), Mr Battersby (Gibbons), one of the best; William Cowper (Wood), a clear and beautifully-marked flower.

Rose Flakes

James Merry weather (Wood), Lord Belper (Turner), Mr Martin (Elkington), Nymph (Puxley), Rosabelle (Schofield), Rose of Castille (Headly), Samuel Moreton (Addis).

Tree Carnations

Foremost amongst the splendid array in this section must be named Souvenir de la Malmaison, and its beautiful varieties. There are both a rose and a pink, besides the much-admired blush-white. The rose is certainly a grand addition, and model companion for the latter. Its shade of colour is very deep rose, a self, with all the qualities of the blush-white. The pink is a striped form, the pink prevailing in the flower. Ascot Giant, white-edged red; Ascot Yellow is edged crimson, fine form; Boule de Feu, scarlet, good old sort; Brilliant, scarlet, striped with crimson; Hermine, white self, fine; Novelty, buff, splashed and streaked scarlet; The Dragon, scarlet, good; White Nun, white self, constant bloomer, fine.

The following little list has been raised by Mr Robertson, gardener, Seacot House, Leith. They have all been awarded first-class certificates, and are the pick out of hundreds grown by that successful grower and raiser of the Carnation: - Annie, mottled; Rosea Queen, Leith Mount Beauty, dark striped; Sea-cot Beauty, dark; Maiden's Blush, Magenta, Magpie, and Crimson King.

Cloves

Bride (Hodges), pure white, splendid flower, robust grower; Ghost (Turner), a lovely white; Hindoo (Turner), deep crimson, extra; Pioneer (Turner), salmon and scarlet; Purple Prince, extra; Scotch Clove, dark, neat habit; Napoleon III., brilliant scarlet, etc.; Old Crimson, rich maroon-crimson. A. Kerr.