_Editor Mayflower:_
A well-grown Carnation cannot, in my opinion, be surpassed in elegance,
beauty, or odor, by any other flower, yet we scarcely ever see it in
perfection. Our summers here are too dry and hot for the full
development of its beauties, but the young plants sent me from THE
MAYFLOWER headquarters early this spring have so successfully overcome
all difficulties that I cannot refrain from telling your readers that I
think my success was due, first, to healthy young plants, and secondly,
to ordering them _early_ in the season. Many years, for the want of this
knowledge, I waited until the time for setting out tender plants in May
before putting out Carnations, and thus deprived them of a season of six
weeks well adapted to their growth. As Carnation plants are almost
hardy, they may, with safety, be put out in the open ground in any
section of the country as soon as lettuce, cabbage, etc., are planted.
Of the dozen plants I received from THE MAYFLOWER only one has succumbed
to our hot Southern summer, and the greater number are at this writing
(Aug. 7,) growing beautifully. They are planted around the edge of a bed
of Tea Roses, and have received no special attention except an
occasional pinching out of the terminal shoots to produce a stocky
growth. When the roses were mulched with grass clippings at the
beginning of summer a layer was placed around the Carnations, and when
the Roses are sprinkled with the hose every evening the Carnations come
in for their share of the moisture. A single blossom of Gen. Maceo would
amply repay me for all the trouble I have taken, as one flower of this
variety remained fresh and bright for over a week.--_A. M. Stuart._
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