364 MANUAL OF GARDENING 



handle. Care should be taken to pinch out the tops of the young 

 plants while growing in the pot, and later while in the ground, causing 

 them to grow stocky and send out new growths along the stem. The 

 young plants should be grown cool, a temperature of 45° suiting them 

 well. Attention should be given to spraying the cuttings each day 

 while in the house to keep down the red spider, which is very partial 

 to the carnation. 



In the summer, the plants are grown in the field, and not in pots, 

 being transplanted from the cutting-box. The soil in which they are 

 to be planted should be moderately rich and loose. Clean cultivation 

 should be given throughout the summer. Frequently pinch out the 

 tops. 



The plants are taken up in September and potted firmly, and well 

 watered; then set in a cool, partially shaded situation until root growth 

 has started, and watering the plant as it shows need of water. 



The usual living-room conditions as to moisture and heat are not 

 such as the carnation demands, and care must be taken to overcome 

 the dryness by spraying the foliage and setting the plant in a position 

 not exposed to the direct heat of a stove or the sun. In commercial 

 houses, it is not often necessary to spray established plants. Pick off 

 most or all of the side buds, in order to add to the size of the leading 

 flowers. After all is said, it is probably advisable in most cases to 

 purchase the plants when in bloom from a florist, and after blooming 

 either throw them away or store them for planting out in the spring, 

 when they will bloom throughout the summer. 



If conditions are right, the rust should not be very troublesome, if 

 the start was made with clean stock. Keep all rusted leaves picked off. 



Century plants or agaves are popular plants for the window-garden 

 or conservatory, requiring little care and growing slowly, thus needing 

 repotting only at long intervals. When the plants have outgrown 

 their usefulness as house-plants, they are still valuable as porch deco- 

 rations, for plunging in rook-work, or about rustic nooks. The striped- 

 leaved variety is the most desirable, but the normal type, with its blue- 

 gray leaves, is highly ornamental. 



There are a number of dwarf species of agave that are not so com- 

 mon, although they may be grown with ease. Such plants add novelty 



