392 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



When wet and damp weather does set in, the fires should be started 

 and the pipes kept lukewarm, or just sufficiently warm to dry up the 

 damp, the top ventilators being left open day and night. This can 

 be continued until sharp frost sets in, and even then on all possible 

 occasions ; a damp, close atmosphere does more harm to Carnations 

 than any other condition, encouraging rust, spot, and nearly every ill 

 they are subject to. 



Watering must now, as always, be done with care ; keep rather on 

 the dry side than the wet, and do not splash the water over the stage 

 and house. 



Fumigation should be attended to from the earhest stage ; never 

 allow any insect pest, such as greenfly, to get a chance of 

 doing harm. 



A question constantly asked is : What will cure Carnation rust ? 

 I admit 1 do not know a cure which is certain, but many preparations 

 claim to do so, and the answer to the question must be : " Prevention 

 is better than cure." The prevention is, I am certain, do not keep 

 a close, damp atmosphere. 



The glass of the house must always be kept clean in winter ; it 

 is essential to get all the hght and sun possible during the autumn, 

 winter, and early spring months. Shading is seldom necessary before 

 April, and then should only be used in hot, bright times. Roller-blind 

 shading is, therefore, preferable to any fixed kind of shading. 



Disbudding is often necessary — vdth some varieties more than 

 others — especially between early autumn and Christmas ; after Christ- 

 mas the buds usually come singly. All buds, except the one main bud 

 on the flower-stem, should be rubbed out in a similar manner to dis- 

 budding Roses or Chrysanthemums ; and also any lateral growths 

 on the flower-stem. If these lateral growths are not taken away, only 

 very short flower-stems are obtainable and the flowers will be small. 

 Many varieties, however, require no disbudding ; they have very long, 

 naturaUy clean flower-stems, with only one bud. 



Another question is often asked : Can two-year-old plants not be 

 used with advantage ? My opinion is they are not profitable ; the 

 flowers are always small ; but they certainly give a large number of 

 flowers. If it is decided to use the two-year-old plants, they should 

 be cut back in July or August, taking out all old flowering wood, 

 leaving all the young growths required to make a good plant. 

 They should be re-potted into a size larger pot at Jie same time 

 as they are cut back, using the same soil as for final potting of the 

 young plants. 



To sum up the whole question of growing Carnations in pots : — 

 have and keep everything perfectly clean ; never over-water, and 

 never let the plants get dust-dry ; keep the atmosphere dry with a cir- 

 culation of air ; use good and suitable soil ; keep an eye on all insect 

 pests ; destroy plants with rust or keep them in a separate house 

 as far away from clean plants as possible ; and always remember 

 Carnations must have plenty of hght. 



