Lifting and Planting Carnations from the Field 



soil around the roots until they are completely covered ; then thoroughly firm 

 the soil upon the roots, finishing up with a light pounding with the fist to com- 

 pact the soil ; at the end, working loose soil all around over the top, so that 

 while the roots of the plant are so firmly held by the compact soil under- 

 neath that the plant will stand erect, the surface is mellow, and in a condition 

 to form a dry mulch, which has been described in Field Culture. (See 

 Chapter VIII.) 



After the plants have been set, the next step is 



Watering 



Usually there are two planters in a gang, one at each side of the bench ; 

 and as soon as twenty to twenty-five feet of bench has been planted, the head 

 planter takes the hose, and with a fine rose syringes the bench lightly and 

 evenly, sufficient to wet the entire surface. Some growers recommend soak- 

 ing the bench through at once, pouring on the water so liberally that it will 

 run through the soil and drip from the bottom of the bench. This method 

 we have not found advantageous, but prefer to give several light waterings 

 during the course of the day until the moisture has penetrated through to the 

 bottom of the bench, and the soil has become moistened throughout in a 

 natural manner, similar to what occurs in the open ground when a gentle 

 rain is falling. 



Any close observer of soils will have noted that in seasons where very 

 rapid, heavy rainfalls occur, when the ground becomes compacted and satu- 

 rated for a considerable length of time, many kinds of vegetation suffer, and 

 many varieties of plants are attacked with the species of fungus known as 

 stem rot. For instance, cabbages and cauliflowers will rot oft" at the neck and 

 large areas of these plants be destroyed. Muskmelons, squashes and pump- 

 kins will rot before they are ripened. Many hardy plants, such as Sweet 

 William, Goldenrod, Perennial Phlox, and even herbaceous Peonies, will rot 

 off at the surface of the soil. Carnations are also seriously affected in a 

 similar manner. The rotting of plants, under such conditions, should give 

 the carnation grower a broad hint as to the undesirability of soaking his 

 benches until they are in a muddy, saturated condition. 



Many growers will probably have observed that when carnations are 

 planted in the field, and the planting is followed by a gentle rain, extending 

 perhaps over night, and falling so gently as not to compact the soil, but 

 simply to moisten it throughout, the plants start immediately into growth 

 without noticeable check. But where such planting out is followed by heavy 

 beating showers, the plants are injured by the excess of moisture and the 



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