CARNATION AS GARDEN PLANT 21 



to plant a pair of Carnations in a three-inch pot, but 

 considering it is frequently impossible to plant out until 

 April, when growth has some time commenced, it is 

 apparent that pots of the above dimensions are deficient 

 in capacity. Other good growers select four-inch pots, 

 placing one, two, and three layers in these, and the results 

 are invariably more favourable. The very best results, 

 however, are secured by selecting very strong layers which, 

 potted early in September singly in five-inch pots, are little 

 inferior to plants set out in early autumn. The winter 

 treatment of plants in pots calls for a low tempe- 

 rature, abundant ventilation, and no applied moisture, 

 either at root or in the atmosphere. If rust or spot 

 appears, it is essential that the parts affected be removed 

 as soon as noticed, and forthwith destroyed, and flowers 

 of sulphur distributed over the plants and their surround- 

 ings. With the advent of spring, the soil in the pots 

 will require moistening from time to time, but refrain 

 from applying water freely. Abundance of air is also 

 essential, and green fly must be watched for and destroyed. 

 It is usually April before transplanting to the open can 

 be effected, and it may be remarked that the soil for 

 these may be, to some extent, more enriched than for 

 layers rooted in autumn. Let the soil, however, be 

 made quite firm, and in planting, do not sink the plant 

 any lower than it stood in the pot, deep planting being 

 always resented, more or less, by the Carnation. There 

 are various ways of arranging the plants, the simplest 

 being in rows with the plants singly at a foot to fifteen 

 inches apart. When the plants are not very large they 

 are sometimes arranged in threes, planted a few inches 

 apart, with fifteen-inch intervals between the triplets. 

 Wintered in pots one has to treat them according to the 

 number in each. The early summer treatment of each 

 set is identical : repeated stirring of the surface-soil, ap- 

 plications of soot and pigeon-manure, or superphosphate 



