Calendar of Operations for All Classes. 175 
under canvas, the latter should be removed to expose 
the foliage to sunshine and air to harden it. The 
pots may be left on the staging and layered there, 
or if the operator chooses he may sit astride a form 
or board of suitable height and have the pot directly 
in front of him. This makes the operation easy for 
those unaccustomed to stooping or standing at their 
work. Remove about an inch of the top soil and 
replace it with a layering compost. When a few 
pots have been finished they should be watered 
down with a rosed watering pot. 
Layers situated rather high on the plant for layer- 
ing in the usual way may be pegged into small pots 
on the top of the large ones. If shoots are plentiful 
this method should be avoided as it encourages the 
layers to perpetuate the habit and assume the form 
of a tree Carnation. In the case of some seedlings 
it 1s unavoidable ; to preserve such it becomes neces- 
cary to pull out the axillary shoots and use them as 
pipings. If all the lower shoots of certain varieties 
happen to be diseased they may be saved by this 
extreme method. They may be rooted in pots under 
bell-glasses over a spent hotbed if possible. 
Tree Carnations. 
ihe -carliest: rooted: batches’ “or splants; uf mot 
stopped too late, will commence flowering some time 
during this month. In such case they should be 
cleared of green fly and thrips preparatory to placing 
them under glass. Thrips are the most difficult to 
dislodge, but may be destroyed by nicotine vapour 
in some form or other after they are housed. 
The latest batches should be put in their flowering 
pots towards the end of the month if not previously 
done. Other batches which have filled their flower- 
ing pots with roots should be assisted with some 
artificial fertiliser. Syringing should still be con- 
tinued on plants in the open to keep them clean and 
healthy. 
Malmaison Carnations. 
Repot young plants as they require it, before the 
roots get matted. This keeps them growing steadily 
without check. Careful watering according to their 
needs, and syringing to keep them clean are the 
chief requirements at this season. Staking must 
not be overlooked as many varieties of this section 
are leggy plants. 
