44 CARNATIONS AND PINKS 



This gives the best of all positions for layering ; 

 indeed, some varieties of tall growth, such as Mrs. 

 Martin Smith, Calypso, &c., cannot be layered in 

 pots owing to their tall and sometimes straggling 

 growth. It is not well to leave the layered shoots 

 long attached to the parents. They should be taken 

 off in good time and potted in 3-inch or 3|-inch 

 flower -pots. The plants require to be left in a 

 close frame or greenhouse and shaded from bright 

 sun until they have made fresh rootlets, when air may 

 be given freely. Do not let the plants become pot- 

 bound, but transfer them to a larger size as they 

 require it. It is better for the plants to be re-potted 

 into 4|-inch and 5-inch pots, to be again re-potted 

 in 6-inch or 6|-inch size afterwards. Place sticks to 

 the plants in good time, so that they are not broken, 

 and if early flowers are desired a temperature of fifty 

 degrees as a minimum is required about Christmas, 

 rising to fifty-five degrees in January. This is a suffi- 

 ciently high temperature. Rust is the most troublesome 

 enemy of the Carnation. Few collections are quite 

 free from it. The plants may be apparently clean, 

 but the enemy is probably lurking somewhere. The 

 only advice to give is, Watch ! and as soon as the 

 least trace of it is seen cut off the diseased part and 

 burn it, without wasting time on washes, solutions, 

 or dippings. Red spider will appear in hot and dry 

 weather, and sometimes when the temperature is 

 neither one nor the other. Syringe the Carnations 

 on the mornings of fine days, especially the under 

 surface of the leaves, and use clean rain water 



