106 ON COMPOST FOR CARNATIONS. 



it is decidedly a stove plant, and requires great heat and moisture 

 to flower it to perfection even there. 



Jan. 1th, 1834. Thos. Appleby. 



ARTICLE VI.— On Compost for Carnations. By Mr. 

 J. Banton, near Oakham, Rutland. 



Being convinced of the utility of the following method, I offer 

 it to your notice for the use of such of your readers as may he 

 disposed to try it. The chief thing in which I differ from most 

 others whose methods of preparing compost I have seen, is the 

 substituting turf-ashes for sand. This I find to he much prefera- 

 ble ; and I have no doubt it will be found the same by all those 

 who, like me, are obliged to use cow-dung as the principal article 

 in their compost : by cow-dung, I mean the manure formed by the 

 dung and litter thrown from the cow-house, which should be at 

 least one year old before it is used. The cold, heavy nature of 

 this manure is corrected by the contrary properties of the ashes. 

 My method is as follows : — In March or April, I take some turf 

 from the best ground I can, considering that the fatter the soil the 

 better will be the ashes. I do not take it more than four inches 

 deep ; and as soon as the turfs are in order, I burn them. When 

 I consider that I have a sufficient quantity of ashes, I mix them 

 as hot as possible with my cow-dung and loam. As to the precise 

 quantity, I am not very particular : much depends on the nature 

 of the loam ; and a trial or two will easily determine the propor- 

 tion. Of our red earth, I allow about one part to one part of 

 ashes, and two parts of dung. This compost should be turned 

 and mixed at least once a fortnight in summer, and once in three 

 weeks or a month in summer : for, notwithstanding all that has 

 been said about the winter preparation of soil, I believe one sum- 

 mer to be worth two winters for the purpose. I do not find it 

 necessary to use quick lime in this compost, though, when I used 

 sand, I thought lime indispensable. The wire-worm I have not 

 seen in the compost, as I now use it ; yet I am by no means pre- 

 pared to say, that that formidable enemy of the florist will not 

 attack plants growing in it. After twelve months' preparation, it 

 will be fit for use. Turf-ashes are used by other florists in the 



