Calendar of Operations 



plough it under at once. Fumigate young stock either with tobacco, XL- All, 

 or tobacco extract, for three consecutive nights before the stock is planted out 

 either in the open ground or on benches. Exercise great care in fumigating ; 

 don't overdo it. 



May 



The growth of the plants is still increasing. Insect pests will now multi- 

 ply rapidly if not attended to and destroyed. If red spider and thrips are 

 allowed to get full possession of the plants at this season, the grower might 

 as well go out of the carnation business. Use XL- All for thrips ; syringe for 

 red spider. (See Chapter XII., on Soap Solution and Salt Solution.) Fumi- 

 gation with XL-All, tobacco, or tobacco extract, will kill green fly. Plant 

 out all young stock as fast as ready. Plant in freshly cultivated soil. (See 

 Chapter VII.) Fumigate all young stock before planting out. All ground 

 should be ploughed a second time. Thorough preparation of the soil before 

 planting out is necessary. (See Chapter IV., on Soils.) All blooming plants 

 should be lightly shaded. Plants on the benches need abundant watering and 

 all the air possible, and syringing once or twice each week, if there be any 

 indication of red spider. 



Houses intended for indoor culture of plants in summer should be 

 cleaned out, the benches thoroughly washed inside and outside and under- 

 neath, the roofs and sides of the houses thoroughly washed down inside, and 

 fumigated by burning flour of sulphur at the rate of four pounds to a house 

 twenty by one hundred feet. Close up the house tight immediately after 

 washing down, and fumigate while the house is full of moisture. Place the 

 sulphur in several six-inch pans, or pots, or on plates ; put these at different 

 points on the walks, drop in live coals, and leave the house quickly, allowing 

 the sulphur to burn itself out. This is very effective if done early on a 

 bright, warm day. Leave the house closed twenty-four hours, then throw it 

 wide open and wash down everything thoroughly with the hose and allow all 

 to dry out for a day. Few insects and fungi will survive this treatment. 

 Look after the shifting of all young stock. All field stock should be planted 

 by the last of this month. Run the cultivator among all young plants when- 

 ever the surface of the ground shows hardening. Cultivate after each rain. 

 Hoe the young plants, and break hard soil around their necks. Never allow 

 weeds to get a foothold. Plants in pots intended for planting on the benches 

 in June or July, should now be plunged in a frame, in order to harden them 

 off and save care in watering. Sash should not be put on such plants except 

 in case of heavy rains or a hard frost. When the sash is on, give plenty of 

 air, even during heavy rains, by lifting up the sash at the back. 



16 241 



