CARNATIONS—BORDER QUEEN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 124, 11 June 1937, Page 11

CARNATIONS—BORDER QUEEN

The popularity enjoyed by the caruation dates back many centuries, and the fact that it was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans proves it to be a very old plant. Pliny places its earliest habitat in Spain, where he states it was found in the days of Augustus. Gaesar. It is difficult to say when the plant first appeared in Britain. We are given to understand that the original flower was flesh-coloured, and according to Gerarde, yellow varieties were not introduced until 1580. There are scores of excellent and absorbing legends woven round the history of this popular garden f avourite, which has endeared itself to horticulturists the world over. Its attractive form, diversity of colouring and delicious perf ume, are obviously the explahation of its far-flung popularity. During modern years there has been phenomenal development among carnations, and on the show benches as well as displayed in the plantsmen's windows wo observe the painstaking results achievtd by the hybridisers. Yarious classes or types have been developed, each with its own distinctive peculiarities, and a wonder array of qxquisite tintings. Carnations ' are ideal garden tenants, and attractive subjeets for beds and borders. Although oft-times raised from seed, the flowers seldom possess any marked quality, but make useful garden material. The" Marguerite types are particularly useful in this direction. The best method of propagating good named varieties is to "tongue" tho yOung shoots during the summer. This operation simply consists of malcing a longti tudinal slit, about au inch in length, along the stem with a sharp lcnife, and gently drawing it open and slipping in a small pcbble to koep the surface apart. lloots will speedily form, and the shoot, now a separate plant, may be severed from the parent. IMay and June are the best months to plant out carnations for e*rly flowering. There is now a wonderful selecfaon, of named varieties for the amateur to ehoo.se from, and no timo should be lost in commencing work. . A1 though it may be said that carnations adapt themselves to quite a variety of soils, we are otf the opinion that a sweet, easily worked, sandv loam wlil prove the most satisfactor'y i'or 1 heir most suecessful eultnre. Tlie plants revel in a roomy, open situation, with maximum ounlight and

air, and positivel,y rebels at eoddling and cramping. Where practicable give them a bed entirely to themselves. Tho bed deeided upon should be thoroughly drained, and enriched with some well decomposed dairy manure worktd into the soil at loast twdve

inches. Ilank manures aro to bo avoided, and overcrowding is the forerunner of disease. As an after-application to manuring. lime is highly beueficial, as it assists in keeping the soil sweet and iiberates | vaiuable plant foods simnltaneous.lv.