Carnation Culture in California 



build, to build well ; and if one can't aiTord it, to build less, otherwise a 

 grower must be prepared to rebuild every seven years, at least. 



1 find the actual culture and treatment of carnations here about similar 

 to those on the other side of the Rockies, with the exception of some dates. 

 We begin making our cuttings about January i ; planting from two and 

 one-half inch pots into the open ground, in the beginning of April, when 

 heavy rains are not expected any more. After thoroughly cleaning and 

 whitewashing the houses and beds, we fill the latter with a mixture of soil, 

 as follows : To ten loads of rich loam we add, according to quality, from 

 one to two loads of clean sand, and three loads of good old cow manure. 



We start planting in the middle of July, and finish by the end of August. 

 We find it necessary to assist the soil in the beds for the first time about 

 the middle of December ; after that, monthly, by using liquid manure, and 

 alternating with nitrate of soda. 



In training the flower shoots, we still adhere to the old practice of 

 stretching twine to the sides and ends of the beds, attached to wires, in prefer- 

 ence to the wire frames used in the East. 



Starting with healthy plants ; exercising cleanliness, affording plenty 

 of fresh air, and not too much water during dull weather, maintaining about 

 fifty degrees of temperature at night, will keep carnations healthy in Cal- 

 ifornia, and, I suppose, almost anywhere. 



JOHN H. SIEVERS 



John H. Sievers, of San Francisco, was 

 born in the city of Bremen, Germany, on 

 October 31, 1837. After receiving his edu- 

 cation he engaged in the mercantile business, 

 and was clerk for two years in a large bank- 

 ing house. In 1857 Mr. Sievers started from 

 Hamburg, per clipper "Virginia," round Cape 

 Horn for San Francisco, arriving there De- 

 cember 25. He succeeded in obtaining a 

 position as bookkeeper in a large French im- 

 porting house. In 1861 he went as super- 

 cargo to ^Manila, returning by the same vessel 

 after a sojourn of four months. After sev- 

 eral ventures in mining properties, without 

 much success, he took a position as book- 

 keeper in the Golden Gate Flour Mills. 



Mr. Sievers' love for flowers developed in 

 his early youth, being heightened by a well- 

 kept garden and nice collection of window 



John II. Sieners 



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