112 THE CARNATION MANUAL. 



this end in view I have, during the past five years, 

 adopted the following plan, which has proved most 

 effectual. All turf to be used for Carnations, 

 either for pots or beds, is exposed to as much heat 

 as will kill everything in it in the shape of insect 

 life. This can quite easily be done without burn- 

 ing the fibre out of the turf. The mode of operation 

 here is to place a barrow-load of turf in the hottest 

 part of the flue in a house used for forcing rhubarb. 

 Put on in the morning, it is allowed to lie till mid- 

 day, when it is taken ofl' and another put on, which 

 is ready to be replaced with another at night ; and 

 so the process goes on until we have as much as 

 required. I have found that it well repays all the 

 extra trouble. 



Fork over the beds at the first favourable 

 opportunity after the manure has been put on. It 

 may then be left till planting time, which should 

 be as early in April as possible, when the ground 

 should have another slight fork over, and if the 

 grower can command a sprinkling of wood ashes or 

 charcoal and a little lime rubbish to be forked in, it 

 will benefit the plants very much. A great point 

 in the cultivation of the Carnation is to have the 

 soil sweet by frequent turnings-over and exposure 

 to the action of the atmosphere. In sour or pasty 

 soil they will not thrive. 



Having now the bed all ready and in good 

 order, get the plants in as early in April as possible. 



