The Garden Under Glass

THE BEST FLOWERING PLANTS 53 Myrmidon and Venus. A glance at a specialist’s catalogue will show how numerous are the varieties. Malmaison Carnations As I have previously said, these are the best of the three types for affording a bold display, and if they are some-what ponderous in character, they compensate for this by the beautiful clove scent they possess. The growth may be built up on practically the same lines as the borders. They are propagated from layers, flowered in 6-inch pots the first year and made most of the second year, when they are expected to afford a handsome group in the conserva-tory or choice flowers for house and table decoration. Layering is best done from the middle to the end of June in a close frame duly shaded. About six weeks must elapse before the layers are sufficiently rooted to be potted up. They may be sub-jected to the same treatment advocated for borders as regards soil, etc., but are better kept a little warmer through the winter. As there is a large flower to build up it is obvious that parsimony in the matter of liquid manure cannot be tolerated. One flower per spike is quite as much as can well be accommodated, and obviously this means disbudding or pulling out the side buds as the flower spike advances. The Malmaisons flowering from May to July nicely bridge the time between the tree carnations, which begin to lose colour about May, and the outdoor carnations, which come on in July and August. Those who are greatly in love with carnations will not be content with growing a few only, but will keep increasing their stock un til perforce they have to build a small house for them. I commend this plan to all who can afford it. Malmaisons have not many representative varieties, the