1873-] FLORIST FLOWERS. 411 



Their subsequent demands are only a watering occasionally, should 

 the weather prove dry. 



The afternoon of a hot day is perhaps the best time to perform lay- 

 ering, when the plants are rendered less or more flaccid by the heat of 

 the earlier part of the day, and therefore, more pliable than would 

 be the case in the morning when they are glutted with the sap accumu- 

 lated overnight. By the end of September the layers ought to be 

 sufficiently rooted to have them severed from the mother plant. De- 

 tach them by cutting close to the part where they are laid, retaining 

 as much of the soil as will adhere to the roots, and allot each a pot 

 according to the size of its roots. The soil for this purpose should be 

 two parts, rich loam, one of sharp sand, and one of leaf -mould. Plunge 

 the pots in a cold frame in coal-ashes, and supply water enough to 

 saturate the soil in the pots. Keep the sashes entirely up to admit 

 air, but shade gently for the succeeding ten days in strong sunshine. 



The commencement of November is quite soon enough to afford the 

 protection of glass, and this only in sharp frost. Continue to supply 

 unlimited ventilation — unless in frost — day and night all through 

 winter, remembering also that every blink of sun is acceptable, causing 

 a quiet flow of sap in circulation, by which the health of the plants 

 is improved. Under this winter treatment there is little to be feared 

 from damping off, or mildew, or any other malady, if the roots have 

 made a proper move before frost sets in. 



Insects. — When the Carnation is exposed to a closely-confined at- 

 mosphere,'it invariably follows that they are attacked by green-fly. The 

 first appearance of these should be the signal to effectually destroy 

 them by a smart application of tobacco-smoke, or by syringing over- 

 head, for a few days together, with a weak infusion of tobacco-water. 

 There are other safe expedients — namely, puffing with Pooley's tobacco- 

 powder, or even dry snuff. Wireworm at the roots is assuredly the 

 most destructive enemy to which this plant is subject, therefore it 

 should be the cultivators' careful look-out first to ascertain that none 

 exist in the compost before using it. Sometimes it is a difficulty to 

 get loam quite clear of wireworm, as whole districts are often infested ; 

 but where they must be contended with, an effectual cure may be ob- 

 tained by spreading the soil into a body of a foot deep some weeks 

 prior to using it. Into every few feet of surface insert a piece of 

 carrot or turnip, and after a few days have transpired, so that the 

 worms have been attracted to the feast, look over the traps and treat 

 those caught to an exceedingly "warm bath." Continue daily to give 

 the creatures your attention until the entertainment thus provided 

 them is wholly forsaken, when it may be concluded that the last has 

 been killed. 



