The Garden Under Glass

5o THE GARDEN UNDER GLASS have a chink of air left on at the top when there are a few degrees of frost. It is necessary to utter a word of waming that only healthy plants be propagated from, for that well-nigh ineradicable pest-—rust—is very prevalent. It is a deplor-able faet that it has largely been spread by the distribution of the newer varieties. That is not merely my own experience but many friends in various parts of the country make the same complaint. It is well to be progressive and secure the latest improvements, but if with the novelties we get a disease destined to destroy or disfigure, not the novelties only but likewise their neighbours, it is not diffi-cult to see that we are buying trouble. The present conception of an ideal camation appears to be one whose flower stands on a long, vigorous stem which has a full expansive flower, with clarity of colour, a well-filled centre, unbroken calyx, neatly but not unduly serrated edges to the petals and a sweet fragrance. Added to this we like the flower to be long lasting, the flowering period to be of considerable duration, the number of flowers per plant well above the average, the foliage to be robust, plentiful, not too stiff, and the plant itself to possess an immunity from disease and freedom in producing cuttings. Good varieties are : Enchantress in its blush, its rose and its white shades, Mrs T. W. Lawson, Mikado, Britannia, Robert Craig, R. F. Felton, May Day, Aurora, Jessica, Carola, White Perfection, Sunstar, Pink Delight, Regina and Lady Northcliffe. These are but a few which are certain to afford delight. A specialist’s list would give dozens of names. Most leading firms would send sample boxes of flowers at a very small cost. I advise readers who are not yet converts to carnation culture to renounce this abstinence at once.