The Garden Under Glass

THE BEST FLOWERING PLANTS 47 successfully, present a bolder display and the flowers individually are more imposing than those of the other types. It behoves us, however, to give directions for the culture of each section, for it cannot be denied that the perpetuals are more useful as cut flowers. The Perpetual-Flowering Carnation The best time for propagation is in early autumn, if cuttings are available, and the cuttings should be off the oid plants which were flowered the previous year and have been stood outside for the purpose. Failing this, young cuttings may be procured early in the year. Inserted in the usual way, the pots being plunged in a warm propagator with bottom heat, the cuttings should root in about six weeks’ time so as to be fit for transference to single pots. Many growers now make a practice of rooting the cuttings in pure clean sand. If this can be kept from getting dry it is no doubt a splendid plan, and is in most cases successful; but until amateurs have experimented and proved themselves successful at it, I would advise the usual mixture of sandy soil. A method of propagation now often practised, and one which I can unreservedly recommend, is to layer the plants in the summer or early autumn in the same way as border or Malmaison carnations. During the winter, as a young plant the tree carnation should be kept rather warm, say in a temperature of 550 to 6o°. A moist bottom and daily syringing with weak soot-water or clear soft water will prevent the soil from drying much, so that they will have formed a nice net-work of roots in a few weeks’ time. Gradual shifts in potting will eventually lead to the 7-inch pot as the flowering size. The soil at this final potting might consist of three parts