IN MY LADY'S GARDEN 



each should be in a 5-inch pot. The finest flowers are pro- 

 duced by these strong young plants, but a greater profusion 

 of bloom may be expected during the second season if the 

 plants are potted on and well cared for during the winter, 

 when they should have a temperature of about 45 at night, 

 with an abundance of air during the day and a little at 

 night, too, except during the most severe weather. They 

 should not be watered more than once a week at that time, 

 allowing the surface soil to become thoroughly dry before 

 the roots receive water again ; but when it is given it should 

 be tepid, and in sufficient quantity to supply all the roots 

 thoroughly. It is in the matter of watering these plants 

 in winter that amateurs are so liable to fail ; for if they then 

 receive as much water as ordinary greenhouse plants require, 

 the carnations will soon become unhealthy and fail to do well. 

 When they begin to make fresh growth, however, in spring, 

 they will need more water ; but at all times their roots 

 should be kept rather drier than those of other plants, never 

 soaking them when already wet. 



Another shift (to a pot two sizes larger than the last) will 

 be needed for those plants which are still to be grown on 

 after flowering, and the soil for carnations should be most 

 carefully prepared to exclude all insects, especially wireworm, 

 their special enemy. Thorough drainage, covered with a 

 little dry moss dipped in soot, should be laid over a wire 

 crock, and the compost must be of good rich loam, with 

 half the quantity of oak leaf-mould, and a little soot and 

 sand. It is a good plan to mix this compost some weeks 

 before it is used, and allow it to become thoroughly dry, 

 when the germs of insects are destroyed ; but if there is any 

 doubt as to its freedom from these, it will be well to char it 

 for a few minutes over a fire, until it is too hot for any 

 insect to survive, when it should be made fairly moist again 

 before using it. The plants should not have the ball of 

 their roots broken up (only removing the drainage and the 

 surface soil), and the fresh compost should be carefully 

 packed round the roots, making them firm in it, and staking 

 the plants at once. Porter's wire stakes and wire crocks 



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