AMERICAN CARNATIONS IN ENGLAND 163 



tubular boiler, but the sectional boiler now holds sway, and 

 they are very similar to the sectional boilers used in Amer- 

 ica, although generally not so large. Forced circulation is 

 an innovation which many growers are experimenting with. 

 The system of culture most favored in England is to 

 propagate during December, January and February, putting 

 the cuttings into the sand in the usual way. When rooted, 

 they are then potted into 2 in., and afterward into 3 in. or 

 33^^ in. pots, and as a rule are planted out in the benches 

 from this size pot in April or May, but if planted later, are 

 generally put into a 5 in. pot in the meantime. Very few 

 growers follow the system of planting out in the helds 

 during the Spring, then lifting and planting in the houses 

 in the Summer. With the uncertainty of the English 

 climate it has not been very successful. In dull weather 

 the plants do not establish themselves well, and produce 

 flowers of very indifferent quality. Raised benches are 

 adopted by the growers who have very cold, wet soil, but 

 the majority favor solid benches. It is quite an erroneous 

 idea that most of the English Carnations are grown in pots. 

 This would have been true ten years ago, but it is not so 

 today. Some of the growers favor pots, and use those of 

 about 6 in. in diameter, and the plants are supported 

 by a network of string and wire, the same as followed in 

 the bench system. Many of these growers leave the 

 plants in their pots for the second year, but after the 

 first year the flowers are never of such good quality. Some 

 of the smaller growers have the old-fashioned low span 

 houses; they do not say these houses are better, but simply 

 that the houses were there before Carnations became so 

 popular, and it is quite surprising the good results many 

 of them obtain, but nearly all have fitted the overhead 

 pipes for heating. 



