CHAPTER XXVI 



Carnation Culture 



In Different Geographical Localities on the North American Continent, 

 With Biographical Sketches of the Writers 



Carnation Culture in Lafayette, Ind. 



BY FREDERICK DORNER 



Space will not permit me to go into cultural details, so I will only 

 touch upon the main points. I believe I can do this more comprehensively 

 by outlining the manner in which these are observed at our place. 



Our soil is a loam, of a rather light texture partly sandy knolls, and 

 heavier, lower ground. For fertilizers we use stable manure, wood ashes 

 and bone meal. 



On the light, sandy soil we grow the finest plants. There we are able 

 to retain the moisture much longer, during dry weather, by thorough culti- 

 vation ; and heavy rains drain off much quicker. The plants also lift with 

 a large bunch of fine roots. 



For bench soil we select, in the fall, a piece of the heavier loam, but 

 would prefer a piece of sod-soil; manure it well with stable manure, wood 

 ashes and bone meal, and plough it well under. Early in the spring we repeat 

 the dose, plough again, and after five or six weeks apply some lime. We 

 plough this under, and repeat the ploughing two or three times during the 

 summer. Great care is exercised not to work this ground while wet. 



We have only one soil, and one general treatment for all the varieties 

 we grow seedlings and standard sorts alike. At one time we thought 

 to strengthen our soil by adding clay on the benches, but secured much 

 more benefit from more lime and bone. We find it of great importance 

 to have all manures put into the soil in the fall and the following spring, 

 before the soil is used, so that the manures may become fully decomposed 

 and incorporated. Plants will take hold much quicker in such soil than 



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