CHAPTER X 



Treatment After Benching and Until the Plants Are 



in Bloom 



FOR the first week after planting, ventilation should he given si)arinoly, 

 and with judgment, keeping a moist atmosphere, and avoiding drying 

 draughts. A gentle syringing once or twice a day, just sufficient to 

 freshen up the foliage and prevent wilting, should be applied, but no heavy 

 wetting of the soil should be done until root action has been established. As 

 root action sets in. and the foliage straightens up, and becomes plump and 

 crisp, ventilation should be increased and watering attended to as the plant 

 needs moisture. 



When the plants have become well established, and the bench soils fairly 

 well filled with roots, the plants must be straightened up so that all of the 

 shoots will stand erect. About this time weeds will begin to sprout, and the 

 surface soil should be lightly cultivated or scratched over, and all weeds 

 removed and destroyed. 



Staking or Wiring 



As soon as the growths commence straightening out, or elongating to- 

 ward the bud formation, it is important that support be given promptly. This 

 should be done before the blooming shoots start to run up. I would impress 

 upon the reader the importance of providing support for his carnations early, 

 otherwise the growths, if left for any considerable time without support, will 

 run up, lop over, and fall down, causing the stems to become crooked, which 

 is detrimental to the flower, injuring its usefulness and reducing its selhng 

 value. If the young plants are ])roperly supported, and the body of the plants 

 held erect, they will grow straight and sturdy, producing long, straight- 

 stemmed blooms ; but if not so supported, and allowed to fall down and be- 

 come crooked, the entire plant will grow out of shape, and it can seldom 

 be restored to as good condition as when properly supported from the start. 



There are a nuiuber of methods of supporting carnations, each of which 

 has its votaries, who prefer it to others in use : but all of these methods may 



