Carnation Culture in Massachusetts 



with good results, applying it every two to three weeks during the spring 

 and summer, affording two handfuls to the row on a four and one-half to five- 

 foot bench. When the soil showed signs of becoming sour, that condition is 

 easily rectified by an application of air-slaked lime, which should be at once 

 watered into the soil to prevent the lime getting hard upon the surface. 



Always keep a sharp lookout for insect pests. Fumigate regularly with 

 the most effective and cheapest remedy procurable. Spray with salt to pre- 

 vent attacks of red spider, but don't let the solution touch the blooms. Dis- 

 bud regularly, and as soon as the surplus buds can be removed. Pay close 

 attention to maintaining the proper night and day temperatures, affording 

 ample ventilation on all favorable occasions; and keep the houses scrupu- 

 lously clean of all rubbish, as this means health to the plants. 



PETER FISHER 



Peter Fisher of Ellis, Mass., was born November 4, 1857, at St. Colmes Farm, 

 Parish of Dowally, Perthshire, Scotland, the home farm of the Duke of Athol, to whom 



his father was land steward for a period of 

 nineteen years until his death in September, 

 1861. Mr. Fisher received his early educa- 

 tion in the parish schools of Dunkeld, Perth- 

 shire, Scotland, and at the age of fifteen began 

 to serve an apprenticeship of three years in 

 the Dunkeld Gardens, the seat of the Dowager 

 Duchess of Athol. There he remained for 

 seven years, subsequently removing to Lon- 

 don, England, where he was employed in the 

 nurseries of B. S. Williams, Upper Hollo- 

 way, and, later, in private establishments in 

 the south and north of England. 



Mr. Fisher came to America in 1884, land- 

 ing in New York on June 22 of that year. 

 He was first employed on the Payson Estate 

 in Belmont, Mass., and, subsequently, at Oak- 

 ley, Mass., on the estate of Robert M. Pratt, 

 Esq. In company with his brother, he started 

 in business in a commercial way in Septem- 

 ber, 1886, under the firm name of Fisher Bros. 

 & Co. Having sold out his interest in that 

 concern, Mr. Fisher moved to Ellis, Mass., 

 on May 31, 1890. Here he became actively 

 interested in the carnation in 1892. In 1893 

 he raised the varieties Edith Foster and 



Freedom, both white varieties, crosses of Lizzie McGowan and Silver Spray. Edith 

 Foster was disseminated in 1896 and Freedom in 1897. The now famous Mrs. Thomas 



26; 



PETER FISHER 



