"What is the difference between them? I am told differently by nearly
every florist I ask. An old Englishman told me the other day that he
used to grow great quantities of them in England, and that the
difference between the two is, that the Picotee has fringed edged
leaves, while in the Carnation proper the edge of the leaf is smooth
like a rose."
The question is asked of Mr. Vick, and he thus replies: "The Carnation
and Picotee differ only in the arrangement of the color, or markings.
The distinction is made by florists, and is of course arbitrary. Seeds
saved from one plant, may produce both Carnations and Picotee, or even
from the same seed-pod. In an old work in our possession, the
distinction is as stated, but for long years any flower with an
irregular edge has been considered unworthy of propagation. The
Carnation should have broad stripes of color running through from the
center to the edge of the petals. The Picotee has only a band of color
on the edge of each petal."--_Vick's Magazine._
Although Mr. Vick here states that the Carnation should have broad
stripes of color, neither he, nor any other florist makes this
distinction, but call pure white, and pure red Carnations, just as
freely as those that are striped.
There are two classes of Carnations, and thousands of varieties. The
class of Perpetual Bloomers are called Monthly and Tree Carnations. The
Garden Carnations are hardy, and can be left in the garden during winter
by giving them a covering of leaves, straw, or evergreen boughs. They
are easily raised from seed. Sown in June or July, will make good robust
plants before frost, which will bloom the following summer. Some of them
will be single, perhaps, and these can be removed. Those of superior
merit may be multiplied by _layering_. This method is to select good
healthy shoots that have not bloomed, and make a cut midway between two
joints. First cut half way through the shoot, then make a slit
lengthwise to a joint. Remove the earth a few inches in depth, and press
the branch down so that this slit will open, and then cover with the
soil. Roots will form where the cut was made, and thus a new plant will
be formed, which can be removed in the autumn or spring. Midsummer is
the best time to do this, and by adopting this method good, healthy
plants are secured. The plants should be well watered a day or two
before layering is commenced, and immediately afterward--then only
occasionally. They are frequently propagated by cuttings, which can be
rooted in wet sand, or in light sandy soil.