THE CARNATION. 37 



In severe climates rye may be used instead. They 

 should be turned under early in the spring, before they 

 have formed their heads, and will supply the needed 

 fiber to the soil. The land should be worked during 

 the summer, and will be ready for filling the beds. A 

 similar preparation of the soil, where the plants are to 

 be set in the field, is a good practice. 



Our experiments with greenhouse sub-irrigation 

 show that it has many advantages, which are explained 

 under that heading. If early flowers are desired, they 

 should be benched from the middle of July to the mid- 

 dle of August, but to be successful the house should 

 have ample ventilation. The first of September is as 

 late as the benching of any of the plants intended for 

 early winter use should be delayed, but good results 

 may be secured from late flowering kinds if they are 

 boxed off before severe frosts come, and are kept in deep 

 cold frames until the chrysanthemums are out of the 

 way, when they may be set in the beds, or if the boxes 

 are deep the plants can be left in them. This is an 

 excellent way of handling Hinze's White. 



It is desirable to have the planting ground near the 

 houses, so that the plants may be placed in hand-barrows 

 and carried to the houses, but it the soil near by is not 

 suitable it is better to go to some distance, as the plants 

 can then be readily handled if placed in boxes, loaded 

 on a wagon and drawn to the houses. If the soil will 

 fall from the roots without breaking them, no attempt 

 should be made to retain it, but if it clings to them it will 

 be better to take up a ball of earth and place it in the bed, 

 provided it is not unsuitable for use in the house. If the 

 plants are growing in soil that has become baked, unless 

 the land can be irrigated it will be necessary to delay 

 planting until a rain comes to soften it. 



PLANTING THE HOUSES. 



Having filled the beds with soil, when the proper 

 time comes for planting ; t if well, if one has but a few 



