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CULTURE IN POTS. 
Chapter Vil.—Culture in Pots for Bome and 
Exhibition. 
In the present chapter it is proposed to show how Carnations and 
Picotees are managed by those specialists who cultivate them for 
prize winning purposes. The words “for exhibition” need not 
alarm any amateur who wishes to grow his plants in pots for the 
decoration of his greenhouse alone; the hints to be given about soil, 
- potting, tying, etc., will be thoroughly helpful to him. He may not 
wish to go so far in the way of disbudding, but even here the advice 
to be given will have some value, for every plant, whether grown for 
giving prize blooms or not, will be benefited by a certain amount of 
disbudding. 
It should be noted that reference is not made now to the Tree 
or Winter-flowering Carnations, which will be treated on separately 
in due course. 
In speaking of the wintering of rooted layers, it was remarked 
that young plants which are intended for exhibition are usually 
potted up in autumn and wintered in frames. We may now take 
these young plants in hand, and deal with the potting and future 
treatment. ‘They may be potted singly, in pairs, or in threes. Many 
prominent exhibitors grow their plants in pairs in 8- or 9-inch pots, 
and get magnificent flowers. 
In all cases the drainage must be perfect, and the soil of the very 
best. Adequate drainage may be secured by placing a large crock, 
or oyster shell, hollow side downwards, over the drainage hole, then 
smaller pieces evenly overlapping it, next a thin layer of small bits, 
and then some rough pieces of the compost, or a little clean moss. 
Not a few growers prefer to do away with the old fashioned large 
potsherd for covering the hole, and substitute one of the modern, 
worm excluding wire “crocks.”. These can be had from Mr. C. E. 
West, of Higham Hill, and perhaps other dealers in garden sundries. 
The staple of the compost should be good fibrous loam well 
broken up; quite 3 parts of the heap should consist of this, and 
the remaining fourth may consist of well decayed, dried, and 
crumbled manure and leaf mould in equal parts. Carefully look 
over the ingredients for wireworms and small earthworms before 
putting them together. These creatures must be rigorously excluded. 
The mixture may be rendered more gritty and porous with a dash 
of sand, and a 4-inch potful of superphosphate may be incorporated 
with every bushel. The heap should be well turned, centre to out- 
side, outside to centre, three or four times, to ensure thorough 
mixture, without which it is imperfect. Ifdry it should be watered 
the day before using ; this act should not be left until the time for 
starting to pot, or the soil will be messy. 
