Carnations for Pot Culture 



however, such fertilization is over done, a soft, sappy growth, with washy 

 colored blooms, will be the result. A late English essayist says : 



"A proper compost should be composed of good yellow loam, plenty of well-rotted 

 manure, a little peat, and some coarse sand. In potting plants, the roots should have 

 plenty of room. The period of growth and blooming while in the pots is very long, and 

 to allow the roots to become potbound at any time is bad practice. In favorable sea- 

 sons, it is best to plant in the open ground in May, and lift and repot in early Septem- 

 ber. The leading shoots should be stopped twice while the plants are in the open 

 ground. After potting, the plants should stand in a shaded situation for a week or 

 ten days, or until well established." 



Air must be freely given upon all favorable opportunities, maintaining 

 a winter temperature of about 60 degrees, with some 10 degrees less at 

 night. 



More attention will be necessary in watering plants grown in pots than 

 is required in bench culture. The carnation needs a liberal supply of mois- 

 ture, and plants growing in pots are subject to loss of moisture from evapora- 

 tion from the sides of the pots, as well as surface and foliage evaporation. 

 The soil must be moist, not only on the surface, but clean through to the 

 bottom of the pot. When watering, be sure that a good soaking is given, 

 thus insuring an even moisture throughout the soil. When the plants are 

 coming into flower, a weak solution of manure water, made from fresh 

 cow dung, to which may be added a little Scotch, or soft coal soot, may be 

 used to advantage. 



Green fly is destroyed by fumigating with tobacco smoke, or the burn- 

 ing of tobacco dust or snuff ; or by dipping the plants in a solution made by 

 dissolving four ounces of Ivory soap to a gallon of water, adding a half 

 pint of tobacco juice, and churning with a syringe until thoroughly mixed. 



Cuttings for pot culture should be taken in January and early February. 

 When rooted, pot into two-inch pots, and place in a temperature of 60 de- 

 grees. As soon as the plants are well rooted, place the pots in a cooler house, 

 where the temperature is maintained at 50 to 55 degrees during the day, and 

 45 to 48 degrees at night. This cooler treatment will produce a shorter, 

 more vigorous growth. 



By the end of March the plants will need shifting into two and one-half 

 or three-inch pots, at which time a little pulverized sheep manure, or dry 

 cow manure rubbed through a sieve, may be advantageously added to the soil. 

 After shifting, the plants should not be watered for a few days, as the soil 

 should contain enough moisture to promote root action, if the plants are 

 properly shaded. 



Young plants do best when kept in a low house, close to the glass, and 



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