Carnations for Pot Culture 



from the heap, using fine, or sifted, mould only at the top, around the roots of the 

 plants, which must not be planted deeper than they were before. 



''The mould to be well shaken down, to prevent its settling after. The coarse parts, 

 or riddlings that would not pass through the sieve, may also be put at the bottom, fill- 

 ing each pot about three inches deep with them. 



"At this season of the year, when they want water, let it be given in the morning, 

 rather than in the evening, till about the middle of May, on account of the frosts which 

 will often recur at that time. 



"When the plants begin to spindle, or shoot up for bloom, they require to be sup- 

 ported by sticks, about four feet in length ; some of tall growth, as Humphrey's Clarence, 

 Snook's Defiance, Fulbrook's Grenadier, Wood's Ambassador, etc., require sticks five 

 feet long." 



To keep down aphis, strew pungent, fine tobacco dust, or Scotch snuff, 

 over the plants immediately after syringing. A weak solution of tobacco 

 extract, or tobacco water, may be sprayed upon the foliage with an atomizer, 

 and repeated at intervals of two days until the aphis disappears entirely. 



Top Dressing 



Frequent watering of the plants in our dry, hot seasons exhausts the 

 compost, and tends to weaken the growth of the plants. This may be reme- 

 died by top dressing the pot soil in the early part of June. Well-rotted horse, 

 or cow dung, passed through a sieve, may be used, covering the soil surface 

 to the depth of half an inch. A few handfuls of pulverized sheep manure, 

 and a dash of Scotch soot, may be added, with good results. 



Top dressings of hot manures, such as night soil, sugar-baker's scum, 

 nitrate of soda, dried blood, should be avoided. Weak solutions of nitrate 

 of soda, as well as the chemical fertilizers mentioned in Chapter V., may be 

 used, but must be afforded conservatively, and with judgment. 



It should never be lost sight of, that "an immoderate use of strong 

 manures to most plants is like the immoderate use of hot spirituous liquors 

 to the human frame; they force and excite for a time, only to weaken and 

 destroy." 



In my opinion, manures and fertilizers should be used as foods and, 

 except in rare instances, not as stimulants. Plants that must complete their 

 growth the year round, in pots, are generally much benefited by surface 

 dressings of the soil at reasonable periods. The beneficial effects of such 

 dressings may be made apparent by experimenting with one or two pots, 

 and comparing them with others untreated. The improved health and vigor 

 of the plants will be evidenced by improved color of foliage and strength of 

 growth. The blossoms will be larger, the substance of the petals firmer, 

 the stems longer and stronger, and the blooms of much better color. If, 



