. The century book of gardening; a comprehensive work for every lover of the garden. Gardening. THE CARNATION AND PIOJTEE. 253 scarcely room to be found in the flower garden for Carnations ; they were crowded out into some out-of-the-way corner of the kitchen garden, and I have even known a gardener apologise for growing them at all, with the remark' that they were useful as cut flowers. The same gardener pointed with pride to scores of beds filled with scarlet Geraniums, yellow Calceolarias, purple, rose, and scarlet Verbenas, and even pounded bricks and stones of different colours were laid
. The century book of gardening; a comprehensive work for every lover of the garden. Gardening. THE CARNATION AND PIOJTEE. 253 scarcely room to be found in the flower garden for Carnations ; they were crowded out into some out-of-the-way corner of the kitchen garden, and I have even known a gardener apologise for growing them at all, with the remark' that they were useful as cut flowers. The same gardener pointed with pride to scores of beds filled with scarlet Geraniums, yellow Calceolarias, purple, rose, and scarlet Verbenas, and even pounded bricks and stones of different colours were laid down to till the beds, while the Carnations were biding their time in some obscure corner. As the gardeners were fully occupied with tlie culture of the tender bedders at the dictate of fashion, the culture and propagation of the Carnation was neglected. The layers were not attended to, and as a result the plants became less robust in constitution, many choice varieties passed out of existence, and others reverted to a semi-wild condition. Another cause was the preference shown by some growers for what are termed show Carnations, that is, the Bi/arres, Flakes, and Picotees. This section of the Carnation is better adapted for pot culture than to form masses of colour in the open garden. That this type can be well grown and flowered in the open garden is beyond question, but they require a properly- prepared flower bed and the skilful hand of the trained florist. The florist still holds to these as the highest, and, indeed, only type of the Carnation worthy of his attention ; and many of the most pleasant hours of my floral experience have been passed in listening to and joining in the conversation of such expert growers as the late Mr. Charles Turner of Slough, the late Mr. E. S. Dodwell, and two who are happily with us, Mr. Ben Simonite of Sheffield, and the Rev. F. D. Horner of Burton-in-Lonsdale. Such men as these never allowed their love for the Carnation to decline even in
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectgardening, bookyear19
