Carnation Culture in the Mountains 



Next to this system, we prefer flats, with treatment similar to that above 

 described. 



We regard growing cuttings in pots as the least desirable method, unless 

 the stock is frequently repotted, or removed to flats, or benches, before the 

 plants become potbound. 



Before cutting back, we allow a young plant to attain a height of six or 

 eight inches, this depending somewhat on the variety; and then we only 

 remove the tip sufficiently to prevent the center from growing out again. 

 This induces branching out a little distance above the soil, and makes a fast, 

 strong, vigorous plant. If cut back close to the soil, when still small, a slow 

 and checked plant is the result, with branches close to the ground, inviting 

 all sorts of fungous diseases, and proving a harbor for snails and other pests. 



Our preparation of the field, to receive the young plants in the spring, 

 consists of putting on a good coating of stable manure (cow preferred) on 

 either a clover or timothy sod, and plowing it under in November. To this 

 is added, early in the spring, a light dressing of lime and a good dressing 

 of kainit and bone meal. As soon as the soil is dry enough, we cut it up with 

 a disk harrow, repeating this operation often enough to prevent weeds 

 from growing. A smoothing harrow and leveler is next used, when we 

 are ready to plant. The plants are set fifteen inches apart, each way, with 

 ten rows to a bed. 



At first, a wheel hoe, consisting simply of a sharp blade being passed 

 horizontally just beneath the surface, is the only cultivation the plants 

 receive. As they become larger, this hoe is discarded for a small shovel 

 machine, that goes a trifle deeper. This cultivation, after every rain, or 

 oftener if the weather be very dry, is all the plants receive, excepting that 

 they are carefully hoed by hand once, and sometimes twice, during the 

 season. All cultivation is discontinued, usually, by August i. 



In preparing soil for planting in, we top-dress either clover or timothy 

 soil heavily with stable manure, and plough under to the depth of five 

 to six inches. A heavy dressing of bonemeal, kainit and a little nitrate of 

 soda, is then worked in with a disk harrow, after which the ground is again 

 ploughed, and more bone meal, etc., applied. After another harrowing, the 

 soil is ready to stack up conveniently near the houses, this being done in 

 November. When ready to plant in, the soil is worked over with spades, and 

 made fine. In planting, we use five inches of soil, placing the plants from 

 ten to fourteen inches apart each way. 



We always prefer to lift the plants when the soil is fairly dry, sprinkling 

 them in the field as soon as put in boxes. We never shade when planting in ; 



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