THE CARNATION MANUAL. 65 



the weather be genial, any showers that fall will be 

 beneficial to the plants. 



By the latter end of this month, or fi*om this 

 time to the middle of March, as the weather may 

 prove favourable, they will be ready for planting in 

 the larger pots in which they are to bloom. 



The compost I use is good yellow fibrous loam, 

 three-fourths, and for the remaining fourth a mix- 

 ture in equal parts of rotted manure and leaf- 

 mould. To this is added a little coarse silver sand, 

 with a little lime rubbish or bone-meal, and some 

 charcoal broken up to the size of peas and shaken 

 over the compost to keep the whole sweet. The 

 loam may be broken up or sifted through a coarse 

 sieve, but must be looked over carefully for wire- 

 worm. 



The most forward plants should be taken for 

 potting first, and as the plants vary in size and 

 vigour it is necessary tx) use more than one size 

 flower-pot for them. For the largest and most 

 vigorous growers nine-inch, for the average eight- 

 inch, and for smaller growers seven-inch pots are 

 the most suitable — two plants being placed in 

 each. Scarce varieties may be potted singly in 

 five- or six-inch pots, as their size and root develop- 

 ment may demand. The pots should be well 

 drained and the plants potted rather firmly. If 

 the weather be calm and dry, place them at once 

 on the open stage where they are to bloom. If 



