THE CARNATION AND PICOTEE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 1, 5 July 1911, Page 40

THE CARNATION AND PICOTEE.

\ cry few amateurs really understand fulls the different sections into which the carnation is divided or the cultural requirements of each. Except for garden purposes or for exhibition, the Picotee is merely a colour form of the carnation, ami the treatment it requires is the same. W hat is termed the show carnation. that is. the bizarres and Hakes, like wise the picotee, also included in the term “show.” are grown by thousands of fanciers in Great Britain and the Colonies. They have been classed under the term “Florists' Elowers” for more than 100 years. A rather lengthened experience among cultivators of these llowers (that is. all classes of carnations) has led me to the knowledge of two distinct types or classes of cultivators—first, the stern old florists who can see no beauty in a carnation or pivot eo outside his wellknown knowledge of the properties of a show or exhibition carnation or picotee: and. secondly, the grower of what are termed border carnations. As I am supposed to be an expert in carnations. I am frequently asked to detiml the various sections, or the question is put: “What is the difference between a carnation and a picotee?” It would be well if 1 not only explain the differ-

once between a carnation and a picotee, but also, in a few words, define the carnation itself.

The bizarre is one of the oldest types of carnation, and is divided into three sections, principally for exhibition purposes. The scarlet bizarres have a white ground, Baked and striped with scarlet and maroon. Crimson bizarres are crimson and purple on white. Pink bizarres are pink and purple on white. The faults of all of them are stains or spots and bars on the white ground; very few varieties 'have the white quite pure. The Hakes are also divided into three sections — purple, scarlet and rose. These colours are in Hakes on a white ground. Perfect form of the Howers and petals is essential. The picotees are now in two sections, white and yellow grounds, each being divided into sub-sections of colour margins, broad and narrow. A perfect Picotee should have a margin of colour, but no spots or bars on the white or yellow ground. The colours we already have are red, purple and rose, light and heavy margins. Thus the same colours exist in a picotee as in a carnation: it is the arrangement of the colours which is the distinguishing mark. -JAS DOUGLAS in “The Garden.”