168 Select Carnations, Picotees, and Pinks. 
take care to give the necessary watering and to 
ventilate more freely. This will serve to steady the 
growth and stiffen the flower stems. Attend to the 
potting of rooted cuttings and the re-potting of 
early batches into 341n. and 5:n. pots. 
MAY. 
Border Carnations. 
Prepare the beds or ground intended for the seed- 
lings sown in March. Level the ground, give a 
dusting of soot, rake the surface to clear off stones 
and other rubbish, and tread firmly. Plant out the 
seedlings 121n. to 151n. apart each way about the 
end of the month. Keep a reserve of plants in pots 
to fill up gaps that may occur in the beds owing 
to the ravages of slugs, wireworms or other causes. 
As the month gets well advanced the flower stems 
will begin to run up and require attention in the 
way of staking. A tie given to each stem as it be- 
comes necessary will prevent many a regretable mis- 
hap by the breaking of stems by boisterous gales 
or heavy rain. Wooden stakes painted green will 
suffice, but spirally twisted wire supports are very 
convenient and enable the operator to safeguard a 
larger number of plants in a given time than when 
ordinary stakes and raffha are used. 
Keep down green fly by the timely destruction 
of the early colonies on the flower stems and buds. 
Show Carnations and Picotees. 
While wet or dull weather prevails, very little 
water will be required, especially if the plants were 
not potted before the middle of March. They will 
appreciate a lberal supply, however, if the weather 
be dry and warm. 
Neat stakes, painted green, and of suitable length for 
each variety, should be inserted in the pots and the 
lengthening flower stems securely tied to them. Re- 
move all decayed leaves and burn them if there is 
the least trace of disease. Stir the surface soil oc- 
casionally to keep it open after heavy rain or much 
watering. 
Keep down green fly by syringing with strong 
soap suds to which some tobacco water is added. 
If the pest is secreted in the buds dust the same 
with tobacco powder. Seedlings may require atten- 
tion in this respect. 
