THE CARNATION MANUAL. 67 



Many of the buds when they have grown 

 their full size will ne'ed tying with a thin strip 

 of matting or raffia to prevent their bursting. 



In hot weather syringing up to the time the 

 buds are showing colour is very beneficial in 

 keeping down thrips, invigorating the plants, and 

 inducing gradual and perfect opening of the buds. 



By the first or second week in July, according 

 to the season, the greater number will be showing 

 colour, and must be protected from injury by sun 

 or rain. 



Where the stock is not large, or where stock 

 and garden are both large, a glass-house affords, 

 without doubt, the most convenient quarters for 

 flowering — a free circulation of air and shading 

 from hot sun being matters of course. Where, 

 however, as in my own case, the stock is com- 

 paratively large and the garden relatively small, 

 the erection of a glass-house large enough to take 

 all the plants would be too great a sacrifice of 

 garden space. By putting up a light but suffi- 

 ciently strong woodwork over the stage, with a 

 covering of very good calico, stout enough to resist 

 heavy rain, while admitting light freely, a glass- 

 house may be dispensed with. 



Such a simple structure I found sufficient to 

 resist the heavy rain-storms of the last four seasons 

 without injury to the blooms. The flowers, even in 

 these cold summers, developed perfectly under this 



