CARNATIONS FOR EXHIBITION 59 



flowers. Green-fly and spittle-fly should be watched 

 for and destroyed. Syringe liberally. During warm 

 weather nothing conduces to the cleanliness, and con- 

 sequently the health, of the plants more than a free 

 use of the syringe, but applying it less to the weak 

 growers than to the strong ones. A top-dressing of 

 equal parts of yellow loam, leaf-mould, and well de- 

 composed manure is given by some growers about 

 the last week in the month, or weak liquid manure 

 may be sparingly applied as the buds swell. 



July 



July and the early part of August have been termed 

 the "florist's paradise," for it is then he can enjoy 

 the reward of his labours, but to do so to the fullest 

 extent the plants should be placed under cover to 

 preserve the blooms in all their purity. Span-roofed 

 houses are constructed, from the sides of which the 

 glass can be removed, so that the air can freely 

 circulate among the plants. Early in the month dis- 

 budding should be attended to if exhibition blooms 

 are to be secured. An old florist states that the 

 practice to be observed "depends upon the habits 

 of the variety and the condition of the plant. If of 

 strong growth, three buds may be left ; if of moderate 

 growth, two buds ; and if of weakly growth, one bud 

 only. As a rule, the buds to be left will be the main 

 bud, and those proceeding from the third and fourth 

 joint counting from the top ; but the operator must 

 be guided m his selection by the appearance of the 



