Diseases of the Carnation. 179 



a house with them, try to mature fine show blooms, at 

 the same time stripping the plants of every cutting 

 that can be obtained for sale. Disease is thus invited, 

 and I think that cases in which the invitation is not 

 quickly responded to, will be found to be the excep- 

 tion. Two instances of this kind have come under 

 my observation within twelve months, one of them 

 upon my own place. The varieties in question were 

 very strong growing two year old seedlings, apparently 

 in perfect health. The treatment given them was such 

 as has just been described, and resulted in both in- 

 stances in a bad case of the spot disease, while other 

 varieties within the same walls, treated in a more hu- 

 mane manner, gave no indication of its presence. 



While the removal of a few cuttings from healthy 

 plants that produce them in abundance may be no in- 

 jury, yet as a rule such as are set apart for flowering, 

 especially if cut with long stems, should be given all 

 the foliage with which nature surrounds them. 



Again it would be more in the line of natural con 

 ditions could we give our young plants a longer period 

 of rest. This can only be done by planting for this 

 .special purpose in the spring, taking out the bloom 

 buds, and from the laterals which form, propagate the 

 stock for next season's planting. This should be done 

 early enough to have them rooted and boxed, ready to 

 set away in a cool place, as soon as cold weather comes. 

 In this way, froin three to four months of rest can be 

 given them. 



