Beautiful Border Carnations.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 4, 24 January 1912, Page 39

Beautiful Border Carnations.

Mr H. W. Weguelin, one of the best

judges of carnations in Europe in writing to "The Gardener,” mentions Mrs Robert Berkeley, apple blossom pink. Mrs Henwood, pure white, and Mrs George Marshall, a large crimson, as three splendid novelties for 1911-1912. (Blooms of these varieties were exhibited at the Auckland Carnation Show in December). Self coloured earnations being mostly the favoured section. I will give a few

more names of choice new varieties which amateurs who keep up-to-date will do well to provide themselves with and without delay.

There are not many selfs of the first class, with the exception of the three mentioned above, offered by the winner of the Cartwright challenge cup (Mr James Douglas), the novelties, both from Great Bookham and Hayes, seem to run more to fancies. Irene is said to be a very fine blush white self. This, however, is not a very popular colour, whilst Mrs G. A. Reynolds is a true apricot self of great beauty. If it beats -Miss Pettit or Robert Bruce it will be a valuable addition in this popular colour. Cardinal. Brigadier, and Kitchener may still be considered the best scarlets, though Robert Berkeley. Bonnie Dundee, and Curzon, a new scarlet not yet sent out. are excellent, whilst Etriae is recommended for late work by Mr Robert Morton, the well-known amateur exhibitor. Miss Willmott Carnation is certainly not scarlet—"has now to be shown in the class for scarlets,” I am informed

—iii which case I presume the new Fred Taylor, which is almost identical in colour. would have to be in the same class also. I hope it may then appear next year when more stock of it is to hand. When Fred Taylor was sent to me two years ago I arrived at the conclusion that it was rather better than Miss Willmott.

Sir Galahad. Ensign, and Much the Miller are excellent well known varieties ami net new. What is new. however, is

what I am informed is a grand white. Mrs Everard .Martin Smith. It is a flower of enormous proportions, and obtained an award of merit at the R.H.S.. 1910. I am the proud possessor of three plants of it, and as it emanates from the Hayes Nurseries and was named by the late lamented president of the National after his wife, it ought to be something very fine, I should imagine. YELLOW VARIETIES. For exhibition purposes there is no doubt that the best is Daffodil at the present time. It is the best for that purpose for size, form and colour, but then we do not all want to be exhibitors, and some amateurs grow, for their.own delectation plants out of doors. In such cases Daffodil will not suit them so well as some others. The best for all purposes that I have come across for flowering out of doors is no doubt St.

Patrick. This variety should be grown by every amateur who wishes for good results from a strong growing yellow. I recommend this yellow Carnation to the attention of all amateurs, and feel sure they will be pleased if they follow my advice. The Hon. Lady Crewe is a new yellow—it did not do well with me. but that is no reason why it should not be a good Carnation, as some people in the Midlands evidently seem to think it. I had not enough plants of Miss Maud .Mian to form a decided opinion about this novelty. Eros is good, but too light a yellow for my taste. Ann Hathaway is an old yellow that gives good results at times, but Miss Audrey Campbell, that we grew twenty years ago. is a good border Carnation still. PINK VARIETIES. I think we must put Mrs Robert Berkeley at the top of the tree as resards

form anil colour; it is. however, rather early in flowering, which is awkward for such exhibitors as wish to have their best blooms available on the date of the leading exhibitions. Mrs Robert Gordon is a lovely pink, though not perhaps so large a bloom as the first mentioned. Mr Morton still holds fast to the now somewhat old variety Mrs. Guy Sebright, and certainly tliere is no more lovelv C ination with which I am acquainted, but it is unreliable and sports so desperately that a large number of plants would have to be grown to be sure that a sufficient number of the true variety was available. Adeline is a bright rose pink of large size. Captivation is a pretty colour, though not much known, and Killarney is a beautiful rose pinkself of my own raising. I have several very beautiful light dog rose pinks