4 N. H, AGR, EXPERIMENT STATION. [Bulletin 159 



or by rains (if in the field) they will be washed down quite 

 low enough. Therefore with this knowledge the fertilizers were 

 applied as top dressings in preference to being mixed with the 

 compost when the benches were filled. The reader will note in 

 all our experiments with the fertilizers that comparatively small 

 quantities were used applied at frequent intervals (every three 

 weeks) rather than heavier applications applied with longer 

 intervals between dates. 



The plants upon which we relied in our study of the fertilizers 

 were seedlings raised at the New Hampshire College greenhouses, 

 the progeny of such commercial varieties as Enchantress, Queen, 

 M. A. Patten, Harry Fenn, Lady Bountiful, Mrs. T. W. Lawson, 

 and Governor Wolcott. 



The carnation plants used were propagated in the usual 

 manner from cuttings taken December, 1907, and January, 1908. 

 They were planted in the field on May 18th, 1908, the soil having 

 been previously ploughed, harrowed and worked up to a soft 

 mellow condition. The summer was somewhat drj^ and no water 

 was given the plants whilst in the field. The ground was kept 

 well cultivated, the loose soil acting as a mulch which assisted 

 greatly in conserving moisture in the soil. The plants were gone 

 over every two weeks and all shoots that were in proper condition 

 for stopping were broken off. On September the tenth and 

 eleventh the plants were lifted from the field and planted in the 

 greenhouses on raised benches, in soil 6 inches deep. The loam 

 used was composted the previous fall in the following manner: 

 sods were taken from an old pasture field and piled up in alter'iiate 

 layers of sods and cow manure, in the proportion of one-fifth 

 manure to four-fifths sods. 



Plants were placed a foot apart each way in the benches and 

 after planting were staked or trellized in the usual manner. 

 Occasionally the hard crust formed on the surface of the soil was 

 broken by shallow cultivation, a hand weeder being used for the 

 operation. When the buds commenced to show, disbudding was 

 resorted to, the surplus buds and side shoots being removed 

 weekly. Watering was carefully attended to and the plants given 

 all attention possible to promote growth. The temperature of 

 the houses was kept at 52° F. during the night and 65°-70° F. 

 during the day. 



