Carnation Culture in Lafa3^ette, Indiana 



when manures are intermixed on the bench, though these manures may be 

 as well decomposed as is possible. 



Raised benches, with five inches of soil, are the rule with us. 



After the plants are well established we apply a light mulch of well- 

 rotted cow manure and light soil. We do this more to keep an even mois- 

 ture all through the bench than to enrich the soil. 



We use liquid manures, much diluted, as soon as the plants are able to 

 assimilate the extra food, and increase the applications as the plants may 

 demand it. 



From the time the plants are established we only syringe if red spider 

 should appear. 



All the water is applied underneath, and is freely given when needed, 

 so as to saturate the soil to the bottom. Sub-watering we consider advan- 

 tageous, but for the average grower it will hardly justify the extra expense 

 in building the benches. 



The temperature we maintain is from 55 to 60 degrees in the evening, 

 to 50 degrees toward morning. During the daytime, as soon as the tem- 

 perature reaches 60 degrees, the ventilators are opened. 



Plants are staked as soon as possible, to insure a straight growth from 

 the beginning. We use the Model Support, and in place of the extension 

 employ wire lengthwise, and twine across the benches. 



A house 20 X 100 feet is used exclusively for propagation. The benches 

 have brick bottoms, and are partially arranged for sub-watering. The sand 

 is a medium-grained, sharp pit-sand. The benches are filled to a depth of 

 three inches, and well packed, and the sand is renewed for each new lot of 

 cuttings. 



Wherever practicable, or the stock is large enough, the culture for cut- 

 tings and flowers is divided. The only difference in the treatment of stock 

 reserved for cuttings is that the plants are grown on separate benches, and 

 are not allowed to bloom. In this way we get more cuttings, and in my 

 experience these are of a better quality than others taken from the flower- 

 ing plants. 



Cuttings are either picked out of the axil of the leaf, or are cut at the 

 joint. In either case the cutting is trimmed, and great care observed so 

 that the heel has a smooth cut, or break, and that no bare fiber projects 

 beneath the cut. 



All stock for our own use is potted up as soon as rooted, and placed in 

 a light, bvit cool, house, being transferred to the field as early as the weather 



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