THE CARNATION MANUAL. 91 



bones, a few bits of old mortar, and sonic charcoal. 

 Bones,! believe, have the effect of giving arich bright- 

 ness or denseness to the colours. I advise all to shift 

 their plants into their flowering-pots as early in the 

 spring as possible, beginning about the middle or 

 end of February, as weather permits, as it checks 

 the plants very much to disturb them when in 

 active growth, or when the small pots have got too 

 full of roots. Water the plants well a day or two 

 before this re-potting, and have the fresh soil 

 just damp enough to hold together if taken in 

 the hand and squeezed. The plants, when re- 

 potted, should be kept close and free from frost 

 for ten days or a fortnight, and water should be 

 sparingly applied until they become established. 

 Of all things, be careful of over -watering, as 

 more plants are lost from over-watering than 

 under-watering. I spoilt the best part of my 

 collection on one occasion from over-watering 

 early in the season. The plants, after repotting, 

 will want but little attention until May. The 

 surface of the soil must, of course, be kept clean 

 by stirring once every two or three weeks, dead 

 foliage must be removed, and green-fly, maggot, or 

 wire-worm carefully watched for. The green-fly 

 can easily be brushed off with a small camel- 

 hair brush, or, if allowed to get very numerous, 

 I advise laying the pots on their sides, and well 

 syringing the plants with hot Avater, mixing with 



