78 BUYING YOUNG STOCK 



As soon as they are rooted they should be potted up, for 

 they have ceased to be cuttings; they are plants, and 

 more than sand is necessary to supply the growth. There 

 are many retail growers who feel perfectly contented as 

 long as they know the cuttings are rooted, and they are 

 left to remain in the sand for weeks after that, which 

 usually means stunted plants at a standstill after being 

 potted, or weak and full of disease. If you purchase rooted 

 cuttings, and they are in a healthy state but only partly 

 rooted, it is far better than spindly stock with long " whis- 

 kers," indicating they have made much of their growth in 

 the propagating bench. 



BUYING YOUNG STOCK 



To those who are still short of Carnation cuttings 

 at the third week in February or ending that month, we 

 would suggest not to lose any time in purchasing some. 

 Every firm making a specialty of rooted cuttings and 23^-in. 

 stock has a good supply on hand by that date, ready for 

 shipping, and nothing is gained by waiting longer to order 

 them. Nicely rooted cuttings ship well almost any distance 

 if properly packed (see illustration p. 61), and if potted will 

 make the best of stock by the time they are to go into the 

 field. A Carnation, like anything else, is best when allowed 

 to come along without the least check. The plants in 

 23^-in. pots on February 20 and intended for outdoor 

 culture during tlie Summer should Iiave a shift into 3j^-ins. 

 This, and pinching the top out, will give the foundation 

 for bushy plants later on. These plants, if wanted for 

 benching right after Memorial Day (May 30), can go into 

 a coldframe for six weeks or so previous to their being 

 planted out. This will give the man with limited space 



