28 MARKET NURSERY WORK 



the temperature should be equable. The watering is more tricky 

 than in pots, and calls for considerable discrimination the watering- 

 pot or hose must never get into the hands of a novice. No insecticides 

 can be syringed on to the foliage to prevent pests, for they would 

 run down to the root and ill-health assuredly result. A slight 

 spraying is occasionally possible, but more reliance has to be placed 

 on fumigation and syringing with clean water. 



There is no doubt that this system of growing gives of the best. 

 The flowers are on the whole larger and more numerous and more 

 lasting. A large bed of them is an impressive sight as long as all 

 goes well, but sometimes eel-worm, wire-worms, and other pests 

 of the soil spoil the fair face of the picture. For some of these, the 

 ordinary traps of a piece of potato or carrot may prove successful, 

 but the greatest possible care should be taken to free the soil from 

 them before it is brought into the house. Sterilising is better under- 

 stood than it used to be ; soil insecticides are plentiful and reason- 

 ably cheap, and the prudent grower sees to it that he does not 

 deprive himself of the facilities offered to rid himself of such 

 potent enemies. 



CONCLUSION 



Those who have read so far will be under no delusions as to how 

 to grow carnations. There are no secret formulae or practices, 

 no sleight-of-hand, no profound mysteries, no particular elements 

 of chance ; nothing but sound, reasonable methods, intelligently 

 and untiringly applied. Common sense is the sole guiding power. 

 Your plants have enemies you must destroy them ; they need 

 food you must feed them ; they demand light and air you must 

 see that they get them ; they want only a moderate heat you must 

 control the boiler. As stage succeeds stage so do the immediate 

 needs vary. The rooted cutting is treated as an infant ; the young 

 plant in the first strength of untried youth is encouraged ; the 

 older plants are nourished and sustained. Cleanliness will promote 

 health ; health will ensure success. But the man who is spasmodic 

 and uncertain, who is not prepared to give his first consideration 

 to his plants, who one day coddles, the next day neglects them, 

 him we beg, for his own sake and for the sake of others, to leave 

 carnation growing severely alone. 



