64 AMERICAN CARNATION CULTURE. 



quickl}^ recover from a drouth, and with as little damage to them- 

 selves as carnations. 



The structure of the carnation plant does not teach any ne- 

 cessity for a constant supply of water at its roots, while that of 

 celery does. Benched carnations often suffer from great dryness 

 at the bottom of the bench, but no philosophy can urge an unnatural 

 system of watering to supply the negligence of a grower. There 

 is much care and labor in keeping a proper moisture in a green- 

 house through the summer months. By the rapid conversion of 

 moisture into vapor by the summer sun there is an immense 

 volume of latent caloric absorbed; and for growing carnations un- 

 der glass in summer, Prof. Arthur's system may be a species of 

 automatic refrigeration of the loc^l atmosphere and surface tem- 

 perature in which the plants may flourish, but the method is total- 

 ly untenable on the grounds urged by the Professor, viz: "that the 

 nature of carnations require a constant supply oi water at the 

 roots." 



The proposed sub-watering system created some sensation 

 among growers. I have been diligent in obtaining results from 

 those who have attempted the plan. Mr. Dale says he can see no 

 difference in carnations under the two methods. There is as 

 much danger in over watering b}" the new system as there is in 

 ii7ider watering by the old method. 



Dorner & Son say they cannot observe much difference be 

 tween the super and sub sj^stem of watering carnations: some 

 varieties it benefits, to others it is detrimental. 



J. H. Dillon has compared experimentally the comparative 

 cost of a sub- watering bed and the ordinary wooden bench, and 

 finds the latter, four and one-half feet wide, costs fifteen cents a 

 lineal foot, and a sub-watering bed, thirty cents a lineal foot. 

 The sub-watering system is yet in its experimental stage and it 

 is a question if it ever gets beyond it. 



