Calendar of Operations 

 August 



Cleaning out and filling and planting the houses should be carried on 

 with energy, as it is now desirable to have all the plants benched as rapidly 

 as possible. Fumigation for the destruction of thrips and green fly must be 

 practiced at every favorable opportunity. Select the coolest nights for fumi- 

 gating. The destruction of thrips must be followed up persistently. It is 

 a very difficult insect to reach by any remedial agent, as the pest burrows 

 down into the flower buds where it is safe from the fumes of the various 

 gases used to destroy insects. Frequently the thrips will destroy the flower in 

 the bud state before any color can be seen. Continue the stopping of early 

 blooming sorts of carnations, but the late blooming varieties should not be 

 cut back after the 1st of August. In the latitude of New York, the bench- 

 ing of all carnations should be finished by the 2Oth of August. Cultivation 

 of the carnation fields should be energetically continued. 



September 



There is but little variation in the care of carnations in the months of 

 September and August. Plants that were benched by the middle of July 

 will be pushing forward their blooming shoots. All of these which indicate 

 a short-stemmed flower, or show any signs of weakness, should be cut back ; 

 only the strong, vigorous shoots should be allowed to develop. Continue 

 field cultivation, and cultivation on the benches. Follow up fumigation for 

 insects. Look carefully after the watering in dark weather, especially^ of 

 plants recently benched. Do not give any artificial fertilizer, unless the plants 

 are thoroughly established and the benches filled with roots, and there is some 

 indication of slackening in growth; then commence with a mulching of 

 sheep manure, or a dressing of soot, or a combination of the two. Place wires 

 wherever the plants have straightened up, and be sure to keep the wiring well 

 in hand, doing the work at the proper time. 



October 



The earlier planted varieties will now be coming into bloom. As fast as 

 the shoots begin to elongate the first wires should be placed, and the upper 

 wiring of the benches should be continued as soon as the foremost buds 

 show well above (say, four or five inches) the wires last placed. Never leave 

 the wiring of benches until the stems have grown up and fallen down. 

 Always keep the wiring well ahead of the growth of the plants. Shading 

 should be gradually removed. Do not apply any fire heat, unless the night 

 temperature falls below 45 degrees, and then the heat should be turned on 



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