56 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



longer the better, providing the soil is in a friable condition. 

 Plant firmly, and put a thin layer of decayed manure on the 

 surface of the ground amongst the plants : they form roots more 

 readily when this is done. If the plants are set out in beds, 

 they ought to be about i5in. asunder; if in borders, three 

 plants should be arranged in a triangular form, about 6in. 

 apart ; in this way an imposing head of blossom is obtained. It 

 is well to put up a number of layers in small pots in case any 

 of the plants should die during the winter. 



The time of planting is of some importance, and on this 

 head experts differ. Some say plant as soon as the layers 

 are ready : others advocate planting out as late as November. 

 I have done it in September, October, and November, and 

 could not observe any difference. In fact, the best lot of 

 plants I ever had was put out the second week in November. 

 The weather was favourable at the time of planting, and for 

 two or three weeks after. 



All exhibitors of Carnations, and those who wish to enjoy 

 them in perfection, grow a full collection in flower-pots. The 

 layers are inserted when ready in what the trade term " sixties," 

 two plants in a pot, and they are wintered in garden-frames. 

 They are placed fairly close to the glass, in order that they may 

 have the full benefit of light and air. In some districts damp 

 is troublesome, doing some damage to the leaves by what is 

 termed " spot," but free ventilation will usually prevent its 

 appearance. The work during winter consists in keeping the plants 

 clean by removing dead and decaying leaves, stirring the soil 

 on the surface, and by paying careful attention to the watering. In 

 March they must be transferred to their flowering-pots. Two 

 plants should be placed in a pot Sin. in diameter, or three in one 

 9in. The pots must be drained well, and the compost packed 

 in firmly around the plants. In the process of transferring the 

 plants from the small to the large pots, care must be taken 

 not to disturb the roots more than is absolutely necessary. As 

 the plants are repotted, they should be placed again into garden- 

 frames until they are established, when the best way to treat 

 them is to stand them out in the open air on a hard bottom of 

 ashes. When the weather is mild, and the potting is not done 

 until after the middle of March, it may be as well to stand 

 them out-of-doors at once, as in the spring the frames are 

 often required for half-hardy and tender plants. The flower- 

 sticks ought to be placed to the plants very soon after they go 



