8 



The Weekly Florists^ Review^ 



August 26, 1909. 



CARNATION NOTES.-EAST. 



Preventive Measures. 



Early housed stock will by this time 

 be established and beginning to take 

 on that glaucous bloom peculiar to the 

 foliage of the carnation. It is by means 

 of this bloom that the divine flower is 

 protected against the entrance of fun- 

 gous disease germs; therefore, syringing 

 must not be resorted to, except to de- 

 stroy red spider, but there is no excuse 

 for this pest gaining a foothold if proper 

 attention is given to ventilation. 



Some rainy evening, after the plants 

 are well under way, they should be treat- 

 ed to a light fumigation as a preventive 

 of green fly. There is no economy in 

 waiting until the enemy appears, for 

 then it is only the more diflScult to dis- 

 lodge it. 



It is by far the best plan to fumigate 

 regularly every week from now on 

 through the season, thus escaping not 

 only the ravages of the fly, but, what is 

 still more important, the liability of 

 fungous disease gaining entrance through 

 punctures made by them. We find the 

 fumigating kind of tobacco easy to 

 handle, safe to use and thorough in its 

 work. 



Supports. 



To grow first-class blooms, such as 

 the market calls for at the present time, 

 jiractical supports are about as essential 

 as good plants, and it is equally impor- 

 tant that they be put in place before the 

 plants get too large. 



While it is yet too early to use these, 

 it is none too early to decide what form 

 to use and get the necessary material in 

 readiness. There are several patent styles 

 on the market, as will be seen by con- 

 sulting the advertising columns of the 

 Keview, and while the first cost of these 

 wire supports may seem large, we have 

 found them to be a paying investment. 



Many growers use a system of wires 

 stretched lengthwise of the bench be- 

 tween the rows, and twine running cross- 

 wise attached to the wires, thus enclosing 

 each plant in a square. As the flowering 

 shoots lengthen, an additional tier or 

 two is added. This is claimed to be 

 less expensive than the patent support 

 and its widespread use proves its prac- 

 ticability. 



If any plants are left in the field, do 

 not by any means neglect them. Many 

 times these left-overs prove quite a source 

 of revenue, either sold as field grown 

 plants or potted and disposed of later, 

 when in bloom. Geo. S. Osborn. 



CARNATION NOTES.- WEST. 



Stirring and Leveling the SoiL 



As soon as you can discontinue syring- 

 ing more than twice a day and the soil 

 dries out enough to handle nicely, you 

 should go over these beds and stir the 

 soil. Break up all the lumps and level 

 the soil off nicely, so that when you 

 water the beds the water will not run 

 off instead of soaking into the soil even- 

 ly. A crop of weeds will also be start- 

 ing up about that time, and you can de- 

 stroy most of them if you work over 

 the soil before they are too large. 



As you work over the bed, be sure 

 that the plants all stand upright. Some- 

 times, if the plants are large at the first 

 watering, some of them will drop over 

 to one side. We usually go over the 

 beds about the second day after plant- 

 ing, to straighten up all such plants. To 

 let them go long will mean a lot of 

 crooked growth, with trouble for some 

 time after. 



No mulch should be put on for at 

 least a month after planting. Stirring 

 the soil as often as a crust forms on 

 top is much better than a mulch until 

 the plants get under way. When the car- 

 nation roots begin to run through the 

 soil there is less danger from souring if 

 the soil is kept moist continually. You 

 want to get rid of the weeds before you 

 mulch, too. 



You will want to get rid of what shade 

 is left on the glass pretty soon, too. 

 At this season there is danger of getting 

 the plants into a soft growth, which 

 will mean poor quality for some time to 

 come. The strong sun may bleach the 

 blooms now on many varieties and make 

 the blooms come small on short stems, 

 but it will keep the plants in a good, 

 healthy condition, so that, as soon as 

 cooler weather sets in, the quality at once 

 improves. If you used air-slaked lime 

 for shading, it will rub off easily with 

 a dry brush. 



Diseases and Pests. 



About this time you will find it a 

 good idea to spray your plants a few 

 times with Bordeaux mixture. Often 

 during the time of frequent syringing a 

 little leaf-spot will start unnoticed and, 

 if allowed to go unchecked, will develop 

 into serious damage. Bordeaux is one of 

 the greatest fungicides and it will do 

 absolutely no harm to the plants, even 

 if no disease should be present. Dusting 

 with tobacco will also be beneficial in 

 keeping down thrips. You may have 

 brought in a great many of them un- 

 awares, and they breed fast in warm 



weather, if left to go unchecked. It is 

 good policy to start the blooming season 

 with as few as possible. AphisJ will not 

 bother for some tinie. It is a 'sure bet 

 that if you keep your plants clear of 

 thrips you will have no aphis to speak of. 



Another pest which is likely to give 

 you some trouble now is the wood louse 

 or sow bug, which is also sometimes 

 called the shot bug, on account of its 

 habit, when disturbed, of rolling itself 

 into a round ball resembling a shot. 

 These bugs are really scavengers by na- 

 ture, and are usually most abundant 

 where decaying matter is found. They 

 are, however, fond of certain kinds of 

 greenhouse plants, among them the car- 

 nation. Sugar, with enough Paris green 

 to give it a grass-green color, scattered 

 here and there on the edge board, is the 

 most effective remedy. We have found 

 a considerable difference in the killing 

 quality of Paris green. Some we have 

 bought was little better than mere dust, 

 and most likely was adulterated. 



Did you notice what the officials of 

 the Washington experiment station had 

 to say at the convention about the va- 

 rious styles of beds and benches? In 

 the Eeview of August 19, pages 47 and 

 48, you will find what they have to say. 

 I was glad to hear what they said, as it 

 was just exactly what I have preached 

 in my notes for some six years past, 

 only I had no records of blooms cut. It 

 also did the writer much good to see such 

 a prominent and successful grower as 

 F. R. Pierson stand up and state that 

 his conclusions were also the same. I 

 say again, try the solid beds with cinder 

 drainage. We have found them a good 

 thing, and -others are finding them so, 

 too. The proof of the pudding is in the 

 eating thereof. A. F. J. Baur. 



LOCATION OF VARIETIES. 



I have one east and west house, with 

 raised benches, that I can run at 55 

 degrees ; one north and south house, 

 with solid beds, that I can run at 50 

 degrees, and one nojth and south house, 

 with solid beds, that I can run at about 

 45 degrees. I wish to grow carnations 

 and I have the following varieties to 

 plant: Winsor, Fair Maid, White Per- 

 fection, Enchantress, Queen Louise and 

 Harry Fenn. Please inform me as to 

 the best plan for growing the different 

 varieties in the different styles of 

 houses. W. D. 



To produce high grade carnations, you 

 will have to arrange your heating plant 

 so you can run all your houses at about 

 50 to 52 degrees; 55 deg^rees is too high 



