54 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 
in March, when the flower-spikes are in course of develop- 
ment. These are the two principal seasons when feeding 
by top-dressings is particularly necessary. In the case of 
plants which are grown throughout the year in the same 
pots, a third dressing is necessary as soon as the flower- 
ing season is over, say, in June, I have found Clay’s 
Fertiliser a most valuable stimulant, and I use two parts 
of this manure to one part of bone-meal. The loose soil 
on the surface is removed, and then this mixture is applied 
at the rate of a tablespoonful to a g-inch pot, and a 
proportionately larger quantity to plants in pots of larger 
sizes. A dusting of fine soil, consisting of loam and leaf- 
soil, should be placed neatly over the manure, and a good 
watering afforded with slightly warmed water. Between 
the seasons when top-dressings are applied, diluted farm- 
yard manure water, in which a sack of soot has been 
allowed to soak, may be given about twice each week with 
advantage. It will cause the foliage to appear exceedingly 
healthy, and it will invigorate growth, 
Pests and Diseases.—Like most other plants when 
grown under glass, Malmaison Carnations are liable to 
the attacks of insect and fungal pests, The chief pest 
is the well-known green-fly, which soon disfigures the 
foliage if its presence is not quickly detected. Occasional 
fumigations with the X.L. All Vaporising Compound will 
keep the pest in check. Red Spider is apt to make its 
unwelcome appearance, especially in hot, dry weather, and 
it must be combated with a fairly strong application of the 
vaporiser, repeating it on two or three alternate evenings. 
A fungus known as Uromyces Dianthi appears as 
coffee sprinkled on the foliage and stem of the plant. 
