CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS 109 



this month. If a surface dressing was not applied last 

 month, it ought to be given in June. All the plants in 

 beds may be given a surface dressing of decayed stable 

 manure, after the Dutch hoe has been used between the 

 rows. If dry weather sets in, waterings will be needed. 



Malmaison Varieties. These should now afford abun- 

 dance of blooms, if thrips and green-fly have been kept 

 from the leaves. Ventilate freely, and damp the staging 

 twice a day in hot, dry weather. Provide shade as soon 

 as the flowers are opening freely. Remove dead and 

 decaying leaves, and any affected with disease. 



Perpetual-Flowering Varieties. The work will now 

 include repotting the plants, placing sticks to such as need 

 support, and stopping the growths to form bushy plants. 

 Seedling Carnations raised in January, or the first week 

 in February, should now be planted out-of-doors where 

 they are to flower. If they are planted in good soil 

 at 2 feet apart between the rows, and 18 inches apart 

 in the rows, they will flower freely in September and 

 October. As regards those growing in pots for flowering 

 in late autumn and winter, frequent repotting is better 

 than placing the plants now in small pots into their 

 flowering pots at once. Repot from small 6o's into the 

 large 6o's, and from these into 5 and 6 inch flower-pots. 



JULY 



Border Carnations and Picotees. All the show and 

 border varieties will commence to flower this month, from 

 the 2oth, or a little earlier, until the middle of August, 

 according to the season. The plants ought all to be put 

 under glass promptly, and it is well to fumigate them to 

 destroy thrips. Disbudding should be done, and the roots 



