PINCHING 



97 



given date. Weather conditions have more to do with 

 that than anything else. Plants at the end of August, 

 with the majority of shoots 5 in. to 6 in. long, sho^uld be 

 in good shape to produce flowers during the latter part of 

 November and December. If they should set buds and 

 start to flower on short stems it is just as well to pinch 

 these out. A Carnation is worthless on an 8-in. or lo-in. 



Gannett's Field of Carnations at Geneva, N. Y., in Bloom 



stem, no matter when in bloom, and when the plants do 

 that it is only due to insufficient roots. It shows a stunted 

 condition of the plants, for they are not yet ready to flower. 

 Good, long-stemmed flowers bring a fair price, even in 

 September. Let. the plants flower if they show signs of 

 long stems. The next main crop of flowers may come 

 along after Christmas, but what of that? If you could 

 arrange it so that you could be sure of a Christmas crop by 



