FEBRUARY. 



29 



CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES. 



The season for potting these will soon be here ; and perhaps a 

 few words of advice on the subject may be acceptable to some of 

 your readers. The Carnation is deservedly a favourite flower with 

 many ; but success in its cultivation is, I think, the " exception," and 

 failure the " rule." Attention to a few indispensable points will pos- 

 sibly do something to reverse this order of doings ; no doubt they are 

 well known to the successful growers, but I do not recollect to have 

 seen them prominently insisted upon in any treatise upon their culti- 

 vation that I have met with. 



Early in March is the time for potting, and of course previously 

 such varieties as are required to replace lost sorts or to add to the 

 presen tstock should be procured. In selecting plants, the largest 

 are not always the best, but frequently become " gouty" and die; a 

 moderate strength, of a G:ood clear colour and free from " spot," is 

 the most likely to give satisfaction. There are two systems of pottmg 

 practised: one is, to put three plants into a 12- sized pot; and the 

 other, to put a pair, or one fine plant, into a 1 6 or open 24-sized pot. 

 In the latter plan they are more easily moved about, and in the former 

 they make a greater show, often having three or four blooms open, 

 instead of one ; so on this point every one may be safely left to their 

 choice. The soil and mode of potting are important : the soil should 

 be a strong rich loam, without any recent or half-decayed manure, but 

 should be homogeneous in appearance ; the manure perfectly reduced 

 to mould, and thoroughly incorporated (avoid any compost of a light 

 spongy character). If your loam should not be rich enough, a portion 

 of old cow-dung may be well mixed and rubbed into it; and if the 

 loam has had no previous mixture of manure, two parts loam and 

 one of old cow-dung may be used; before using, it must be thoroughly 

 examined, little by little, to make sure that there are no wire- worms in 

 it; for one of these pests, however small, introduced into any of the 

 pots will ensure the destruction of the plant. Drain the pots with 

 about three-fourths or one inch of drainage, and fill them with soil 

 sufficiently high to receive the plant, and press the soil into the pot 

 to make it firm, very firm ; place the plant (if but one) in the centre, 

 and till in with soil, pressing it in with considerable force. On this 

 firm potting much depends. 



If the soil is moderately moist, as it should be, they need not be 

 watered for a few days ; they should be sheltered from the full force 

 of strong winds, be watered when needful, and be kept free from 

 green-fly. Any strong side-shoots likely to run to flower should be 

 cut off"; and this should be attended to constantly, up to the time of 

 blooming, in order that all possible encouragement may be given to 

 the leading shoot. The beginning of May top-dress with well-de- 

 cayed cow-dung, and weak manure-water may be given occasionally. 

 In very bright sunshine the pots should be sheltered from the sun, and 

 a little shade in the middle of the day to intercept the scorching rays 



