MAY. 133 



tne glass for the three plants also. Each bed is thus occupied by six 

 long rows, each outside row being six inches from the edge of the bed. 

 Of course any plants that are rather " leggy " are secured by simply 

 placing two small pieces of stick against them, to prevent their being 

 blown about and broken by the wind. We have now three " blooming 

 beds," i. e., with plants for blooming for exhibition and other purposes, 

 containing upwards of 1500 healthy plants, and we lost hut four planls 

 from these beds during the whole of the winter, and we are quite 

 certain that not more than 100 plants were lost out of a nursery stock 

 of 10,000 plants. This is to be attributed entirely to planting them on 

 raised beds, and securing them from injury by wind ; for during the 

 past winter, for instance, there has been as much frost and snow in the 

 south as in the north. A few sorts, such as Colchester Cardinal, Optima, 

 Criterion, Brunette, Sappho, Reed's Ada, Mrs. Bragg, and Bertha, 

 being rather delicate growers, should be wintered in pots ; notwith- 

 standing, they are now in luxuriant health after being wintered in our 

 beds, so that it is not absolutely necessary they should be wintered in 

 pots, but it is safest to do so. It will be as well here to remark that for 

 wintering in pots the best place is a cold frame with a dry bottom 

 raised above the level of the ground, and with the glass in good order, 

 giving all the air possible, and keeping the plants quite hardy, but dry. 

 Let the plants be in small 60-sized pots. 



In March the beds are well trodden between the plants before the top 

 dressing. We then mix one barrow of mould with three barrows of 

 thoroughly decayed manure, and top dress the bed to the depth of one 

 inch, and if the weather should continue dry after top dressing, give a 

 good watering occasionally. With growers of Pinks, one fact should be 

 borne in mind. To ensure well laced flowers they should be planted early 

 in the autumn, and if treated as we have before described, much less 

 disappointment will exist than under the ordinary treatment practised 

 by many. Plants wintered in pots and planted out in March or April 

 will lace equally as well as those planted out in September. The 

 propagation of the Pink is often delayed until too late in the season. 

 Good strong plants can only be procured by commencing early, and the 

 sooner after the 20th of June the better. 



CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES. 



Soil for Carnations. — One barrow of well decayed manure to four 

 barrows of good turfy loam. 



Soil for Picotees. — One barrow of well decayed manure to three 

 barrows of good turfy loam. 



The soil, as will be seen, will be richer for Picotees than Carnations, 

 as the latter flower has a tendency to run in colour. In November 

 mix the soil in a dry state, and fully expose it to the action of the air. 

 During winter remove the frosted surface at every opportunity, and 

 place it in a heap by itself until the whole be frosted. Keep it dry from 

 snow and heavy rains, and turn over often until required for use We 

 bloom our plants in 11 -inch pots, each pot accommodating from three 

 to four very strong plants. Weaker plants should be grown in 8 -inch 

 pots, two or three plants in a pot. 



