22 THE BOOK OF THE CARNATION 



of lime, and the removal of the weaker growths when 

 these are produced too abundantly on vigorous plants, 

 embrace the main points. By-and-by stakes, either of 

 bamboo or the coil-iron stake, so popular of late years, 

 must be placed one or more to each plant before the 

 flower-stem has grown many inches. Sometimes it is 

 necessary to apply water in May, for it is a curious 

 feature of the Carnation that though it abhors moisture 

 during the winter-season it, on the other hand, languishes 

 if it is not applied in dry weather during summer. 

 If water is repeatedly called for, it ought not to be 

 given pure, but superphosphate, or some other stimu- 

 lating material added. During genial summer weather, 

 the flower-stems make rapid progress and the little buds 

 not infrequently become infested with green fly. A 

 little tobacco-powder dusted over these effects a speedy 

 clearance, which is important, not so much on account of 

 the harm the insects effect, but because, if permitted to 

 remain, tomtits are almost sure to discover them, and 

 while dining al fresco break over the stems to the great 

 loss of flowers by-and-by. Ordinary garden Carna- 

 tions are generally not disbudded, but when the more 

 refined types are thus cultivated, e.g. Bizarres, Flakes, and 

 Picotees, disbudding is essential, and also, it must be said, 

 a previous thinning of the flower-stems. Disbudding is 

 a more difficult-looking business than it really is, particu- 

 larly if the buds are removed while still small, when a 

 nimble-fingered operator will disbud a very large collec- 

 tion in the course of a few hours. The method consists 

 in grasping each bud to be removed between finger and 

 thumb, then give it a quick upward jerk, when it comes 

 easily out of its socket without in any way damaging 

 those left. Three buds left to expand on each stem is the 

 greatest number permitted by growers of exhibition flowers, 

 but that number may well be exceeded where the terrors 

 of the exhibition table do not loom in the near future. 



