15 DECEMBER 1950, Page 21

In the Garden Another week of wet, frost and snow

has kept us off the flower-beds, for fear of puddling the soil. But the wet lias given an opportunity for spreading a little lime before the second turning of the top-soil, prepara- tory to planting up new herbaceous borders and beds of dianthus. These last are my delight ; an import from Normandy, like the Calvados. I cannot remember where I heard that William of Normandy brought the carnation to England. Its infinite variety might be used as a symbol of that histOrical event and its consequences. And with it I include the sweet william (dianthus barbatus). I recommend especially for planting under a house-wall, if one loves a lavish perfume, the sweet wivelsfield, which is also interesting for its finely divided petals. RICHARD CHURCH.