CARNATIONS AT HOME.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4, 24 July 1912, Page 37

CARNATIONS AT HOME.

RTHI’R R. BROWN. a well-known j I grower and exhibitor. is the third generation of his family who has specialised in the carnation cult. He lays claim that for 116 years his father and his grandfather before him pioneered carnations. So well is he known in the floral world, that to-day he is more commonly designated •'Carnation Brown.” Truly, from 1795 to the present day is a long period, and Mr. Brown should have learned something in his day and generation. To begin. Mr. Brown expresses himself as preferring the small stiff layer with a medium-sized root. to the great branching coarse plants with a root as large as one’s fist. Mention is made of the prevalence of green fly on the young flowering spikes, and the fact that it can easily be kept down by the use of XLALL -praying liquid (not the fumigant I. As the dowering stems develop, the necessity for disbud.ling becomes apparent ami requires attention. The number of buds to be left on is large! v a matter of experience, the practice io be observed depending so much upon the habits of the variety ami the condition of the plant. The greater portion of the selfs and fancies will carry three or four buds with advantage, while other varieties

will carry one. two. and three buds, according to the strength of the plant. A full-sized flower may be expected where the buds have a broad obtuse top. while a variety that produces a "thin” bloom has a sharp and long-pointed bud. As the buds swell, an application of weak liquid manure will greatly assist them. Soot waler ami liquid cow manure in turn are recommended, but always after a shower of rain, or an hour at least after watering. Then when the buds are well grown, tie them, or elastic band them, just above the sub-calyx, to prevent bursting, for although there are a number of non-burst-ing .• ilyxes among present-day varieties, yet the texture of the pod varies -o much with the character of the season and soil, the amount of moisture in the soil, or water given, that it is safest to tie or band all pods, and leave n >thing to chance. As the flowers open, watch them, and should you find one opening one-sided open the points of the calyx on the opposite side and it will soon right itself. Do not start layering too early, as the growths then are unripe, while if Livering is left too late they -rem to take much longer to root. When preparing the beds, trench to a depth of IS in.hes. mix with the soil ah »ut one-sixth part of decayed manure, while care should be taken to see that the beds are well above the path, so

as to allow the water to run oil’ freely, as nothing is so detrimental to the carnation as stagnant water. Mr. Brown is a strong advocate of firm planting, and in the autumn rather than at a later period. In spring, when the plant- have started into growth, a dressing of <4l manure, superphosphate or any good artificial manure (not bloo 11 will be beneficial to them, ( are al-o i-ne.-i --ary in -taking ami tying. the latter being done loosely, ami under a join: in preference to above. Following is Mr. Brown’- -election of the 12 best <elfs; Whites. Alba and crystal: maroon. W. 11. Parton ami Mrs. (1. Marshall: s.ihnon. Had/.or: -carlet. Cardinal Newman: yellow. Ann llatiia way: pink. Mr-. Howard Green: maize. Eliza lel h Shitlner: heliotrope. Duche--ot Wellington: blush. Ayc-ha: purple. The Bishop. Twelve Best Famie-. Yellow Ground. Lord Steyne. Sam Weller. Highland Lass. .Margaret Thurston. Linkman. Erl King. Mandarin. Pa-quin. ( ii. e. We-ttield Seedling. King Sidonian. an I (>aic;\. Twelve Be-t Yellow Ground Picotees. Ar.-hie Brown. Lady Douglas (billon. 1.u.-y Galion. -I. Brocklehur-i. E\qui-i< e. Leonora. Libra. Tog... John Ku-kin. Santa ( lans. Mitina. and Ague-. White Ground Picotees. The be-t are: W. E. Dickson. Bea tie. Thos. William. Mrs. Gorton. Amy Bob-art. Mr-. CL

Chaundy, Lavinia Somerhill, Lady Sybil, Maud Brown, Mrs. Sharp, Duchess of York, Fortrose, and Fair Maiden. Bizarres. —Robt. Houlgrave, Admiral Curzon. Master Fred. J. Hedderley, Arline. and Geo. Rud i. Flakes.—Sportsman. Guardsman. Gordon Lewi*. Geo. Melville. Meteor, and Mrs. Toni Lord. Extracted from a paper read before the National tarnation and Picot ve Society Northern S« -tioni by Mr. Brown, but prior to the staging of the very latest introductions.