Carnation Culture in Ohio 



Plants are set six to ten inches apart, the space depending upon the 

 variety ; small growing sorts the former distance, and larger ones the latter. 

 The distance between rows depends upon the method of cultivation; if 

 for wheel hoe cultivation, sixteen inches ; and for horse cultivator, twenty-six 

 inches apart. Whatever method is used, we always follow with a hand 

 hoeing, stirring the soil about the plant, which is done at least every 

 two weeks, or oftener, as the conditions require, when weeds become trouble- 

 some, or after a good rain. I have always noticed that after a hot, dry 

 spell of weather, followed by a rain with a hot, humid atmosphere, stem rot 

 is more prevalent, and we lose no time in giving the soil a thorough stirring, 

 as a means of checking it ; in fact, I firmly believe this operation to be the 

 means of saving quite a lot of plants, not only at this period, but at any 

 other time when this disease makes its appearance. 



We are always particular in attending to the topping of our plants once 

 a week, up to the time of lifting, the last time just previous to lifting, as by 

 this method the plants are not so liable to give their flowers in crops, and 

 produce a more uniform cut than otherwise. The top should be taken out 

 just as it begins to shoot a flower stem. Should the whole of the plants 

 show this latter tendency, we take a part of the tops, allowing the others 

 to be taken a week or two hence, to prevent the plants coming in crops. 

 This practice is usually followed the latter part of June and July. We have 

 been lifting earlier each year, and do not think after July 15 any too soon to 

 do this work, providing the weather is favorable ; that is, not extremely hot. 



The soil for the benches is ploughed up in April, a good blue grass 

 sod being selected, which is turned under to the depth of about four inches, 

 then harrowed immediately and cultivated whenever weeds appear. We 

 add no manure of any kind, as I believe that the plants, when lifted in the 

 early part of summer, start off better in this soil than when fertilizers have 

 been added. These are always afforded as the plants progress. Two years 

 ago, during a very severe drought at lifting time, I had a variety planted 

 in two separate lots in a field ; one lot being planted on the edge, along a row 

 of fruit trees. This lot was badly wilted, and being anxious to have them 

 planted in the same house, at the same time as the. others, I lifted the wilted 

 plants, and after cleaning them of all the dead leaves the roots of the plants 

 were placed in a tub containing about five inches of water, for about two 

 hours, to freshen them up before planting. These plants recovered so much 

 better than the remainder not so treated, that we have adopted this system 

 ever since, in the case of all our plants, with gratifying results. 



In shading, I prefer whiting, or air-slaked lime, put on evenly. Any 



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