70 The Flower Garden [Chapter 



place for them in summer. They need frequent shift- 

 ing, and by winter should be in five-inch pots. After 

 the buds appear give liquid manure once a week. The 

 utmost care must be taken to guard against aphides 

 or green plant-lice, which are absolutely fatal if al- 

 lowed to gain any foothold. The prevention is plenty 

 of fresh air and tobacco-dust sprinkled on the leaves, 

 which mars their beauty. The remedy dipping in 

 water heated to about 135 degrees, or brushing off the 

 lice and killing them. 



Carnations are the most easily grown of all desir- 

 able house-plants. If planted in drills in the hotbed 

 in April, or in the open ground when the trees are in 

 leaf, they will bloom in about four months. For out- 

 door blooming the Marguerite Carnations are usually 

 selected, and the Giant of California is a new and 

 choice variety of this popular strain. The seed is 

 sown an eighth of an inch deep, the plants appearing 

 in from five to seven days. When large enough to 

 handle transplant into fresh rows in hotbed or flats, 

 setting them an inch or two apart each way. When 

 they are two or three inches high prick off into pots 

 filled with three parts good loam and one of leaf- 

 mould and plunge back into the hotbed. When the 

 weather is warm enough set them in well-prepared 

 beds of loam, enriched with a liberal quantity of well- 

 rotted manure, planting them a foot apart each way. 

 Cultivate frequently during summer to keep them free 

 from weeds. A little soot and ashes added to the soil 



