Lifting and Planting Carnations from the Field 

 Marking Out the Bench 



When the soil is ready for planting, it should be in a moist, mellow 

 condition, so that the planter can easily dig holes in it with his hand. In 

 preparing to plant, regular lines, running the full length of the bench, and 

 spaced at even distances should be marked. Cross lines should also be 

 marked, so that when setting out, the planter will only need to set plants 

 at the intersection of the different lines in order to have all stand in straight 

 rows, evenly spaced. This is important and necessary, so as to enable one 

 to properly apply the wire supports when the plants push up their bloom- 

 ing shoots. 



The benches thoroughly prepared, and the rows all marked out, and ready 

 for setting, the next step to be considered will be 



Digging the Plants from the Field 



This work should be very carefully done by a workman of sufficient 

 intelligence and knowledge of carnations, to enable him to select plants of 

 even size and growth, so that when the benches are filled they will produce 

 an equal crop throughout the entire surface. In digging the plants, all 

 the roots possible must be preserved, especially the smaller fibrous roots. 

 The best tool with which to dig carnations is the ordinary digging fork 

 having four or five flat tines about three-quarters of an inch wide, these tines 

 standing one and a half to two inches apart. 



In selecting plants it is well to go over the field and select all of the 

 larger ones that run of an even size; then go over the field a second time 

 and select a size smaller, which will still fill the spaces fully. If you have 

 not sufficient plants of these two sizes to fill the entire bench surface, it will" 

 then be necessary to go over the field a third time and select plants which 

 can be doubled up ; that is, two plants set as one. By such selection and 

 doubling up of plants an even stand of bloom may be secured throughout the 

 entire house. 



After the plants are dug, they should be taken immediately under shel- 

 ter, and not allowed to become wilted or the roots permitted to dry out, before 

 planting. Too many plants must not be taken up ahead, as it is injurious 

 to have plants lying around with the roots exposed to the wind, sun, or dry- 

 ing air. But the plants should be dug from the field and carried into the 

 houses only as fast as they can be planted, and no great accumulation of dug 

 plants should be allowed, either in the field or the greenhouses, unless it 

 should be necessary to dig a large number prior to a rainy-day planting. If 



105 



