THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 17 



have winds cold enough to affect the plants from that quarter. I 

 only shut up the east side and north, when the wind is very cold. 

 The lights are open every day when fine on both sides. This then is the 

 kind of pit I use, which I consider is far better than any other kind 

 of pit or frame used, as you are not only able to keep up a thorough 

 circulation of air to the plants in all weathers, but it admits air at 

 the same time to the roots, which I think very essential to the health 

 of the plants in the winter time. I think I can say almost more 

 than any other carnation grower can, that is, I lost but one plant 

 out of five hundred pair all through the trying weather of last 

 winter. The grand thing I believe in wintering carnations, is giving 

 them all the air you can, and keeping them as hardy as possible, 

 which this kind of frame enables you to do, instead of having them 

 stewed up in the cold kind of frames that are generally used. The 

 soil I fill my pit with, is one-third compost, one-third road scrapings, 

 and one-third sweepings of the gravel walks, well mixed up before- 

 hand.": I put in the soil about a fortnight before I take up the layers, 

 to give the soil time to set ; I then take up my layers and plant them 

 in the soil, instead of potting them, which not only saves expense 

 of pots and time, but I find the plants more healthy and not so liable 

 to mildew. Before planting, I prune each plant to a clear stem, 

 removing every pair of leaves and all the lateral buds and shoots, 

 until the foliage will stand quite clear of the soil in the pit, about 

 half an inch above it. I ought to have mentioned, that about the 

 middle of September, when my layers are rooted, I cut them off at 

 the corresponding half of the joint to that from which the young 

 roots proceed ; about the second week in October, I take them up, 

 when I find most of them rooted from that part also. I at once 

 plant them in rows in the pit, about five inches apart each way, 

 planting them quite firm in the soil ; when done, I close the lights 

 and the space between the pit and frame, and keep them close 

 for a week without water. Then I give them a good soaking and 

 a little air, shading for a few days if the weather is bright and 

 sunny. 



The kind of pit I have described answers two purposes, that of 

 wintering the carnation and also blooming other low plants under in 

 the summer. 



Others may find a greater convenience in a variation ; that of 

 course has nothing to do with the plan which I hold to be the best 

 for wintering the carnation. 



All I would impress on carnation growers, may be thus summed 

 up : Place your plants under a glazed roof perfectly open on all 

 sides, and a proper height from the ground, attend to watering, and 

 in very severe cutting winds or in drifts of snow or sleet, enclose the 

 sides for a short time as before described, and 1 feel convinced that 

 any cultivator will be fully compensated for the trouble or expense 

 he may have been at. 



January. 



