356 
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
delicate varieties, spreading out the roots on the surface of the 
ground, and covering them with a very httle soil, and they have 
never failed to grow. For the general stock the depth to plant 
is gauged by the length of the tongue of each layer, that being 
the only portion of the stem put underground. I need not point 
out that the Carnation is a plant of a somewhat shrubby 
character, and the woody nature of its stem indicates shallow 
planting as the reasonable method to pursue. Each of the 
young plants is tied to a short stick, and when planting is 
finished a very thin layer of dry mushroom dung is spread over 
the beds, and allowed to remain until the spring, when it is hoed 
into the surface soil. 
No matter how firm one's belief may be in the superior 
excellence of autumn planting, a number of plants are always left 
until spring. Bought-in plants come to hand too late, and these 
along with seedlings, the layers of which have been rooted late, 
are best wintered under glass, and put into the garden as eariy 
as possible in March. The safe wintering of Carnations is secured 
by keeping the plants in a cool, airy house, and perfectly dry at 
root. From October until the beginning of February the plants 
require no water, and its application is generally injurious. I 
cultivate a quantity in pots for the production of flowers in IMay, 
June, and July, and these plants are seldom watered in winter. 
Though the soil becomes exceedingly dry, the plants get plumper 
day by day, and in spring, when the embargo is taken off, and 
they again get water, they go ahead splendidly. 
For the first ten days after planting pots should be kept in 
readiness to place over the plants to shelter them from sharp 
frosts or hot sunshine, the latter being perhaps even more 
trying than frost. During the spring and early summer months 
an occasional hoeing is beneficial, and water in a season like the 
present (1B95) is very necessary. Spring is also the most suitable 
time to apply manure ; for Carnations, though they dislike manure 
in the soil, are nevertheless not averse to a fair amount of good 
feeding. It is, however, best apphed on the surface, and when the 
plants are in vigorous growth. Soot is very good, as arc also 
superphosphate of lime, nitrate of soda, and sulphate of ammonia. 
But it is always better to undor-fecd than to over-feed. If one 
can hit the happy medium, well and good, but by no means let a 
superfluity be given. 
