170 Select Carnations, Picotees, and Pinks. 
weather gets fine, and look well after them in the 
matter of watering, never overdoing it. 
JUNE. 
Border Carnations. 
The latest sown seedlings should be planted out 
in the early days of June. Rake the beds level and 
mark them out in lines 12in. apart each way, but if 
ground is plentiful 15in. will not be too much, 
especially when they come to be layered. 
In dry weather encourage growth by frequent 
heavy waterings well on in the afternoon. If ap- 
plied with a hose this will serve.to keep thrips, red 
spider (on dry soils), and green fly in check. Should 
the hose not be employed, then the plants must be 
pled with the syringe and every other means taken 
to keep down vermin. 
Frequent attention must be given to trying to 
prevent the stems getting broken down. Dis-budding 
will be the order of the day during this month, 
whenever the side buds can be removed without 
injury to those left. This is necessary to insure 
specially fine blooms, though, for border decoration 
only, very little of this need be given. 
Show Carnations and Picotees. 
Continue to tie up the main or central stem of 
each plant and remove all others. Dis-budding is 
also imperative if the grower intends his flowers for 
exhibition. | Vigorous varieties will bring three 
blooms to perfection on a stem, but less robust ones 
only two blooms. In removing the other buds be 
careful to leave the best situated at suitable in- 
tervals. Very weak growers should be allowed to 
bear one bud only, and that the top one. Plants 
intended for the production of seed should not be 
dis-budded. 
Growth may further be encouraged by applica- 
tions of weak. liquid manure to encourage the 
swelling of the buds and the size of the blooms. 
Many of the fine varieties have rather a weak calyx, 
and if grown to large size are liable to split. This 
must be prevented by a timely tie with rafha or an 
elastic band. This will be work for the end of the 
month and beginning of July in the southern 
counties of England. 
