BETTER MUMS FOR 1944 FROM Gaggiell 
Carnation Culture 
(Dianthus coryophyllus) 
A Grower's Digest, by John Bonhard 
In response to repeated inquiries about Carnation culture and other Carnation 
problems, we have jotted down an outline in brief of our methods of Carnation 
culture. Though each grower has his own little shortcuts in producing a crop, most 
good growers follow the same basic principles. This, then is an outline of our basic 
procedure. 
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SELECTION, the basis of all good Carna- 
tion growing. Select for vigorous growth, 
flower quality and production, disease re- 
sistence, and sturdiness. 
PROPAGATION 
A Time, December to April, the earlier 
the better. 
B_ Kind of Cuttings. Heel or top cut- 
ting, both O.K. if taken not too soft or 
too hard. 
1 Heel Cutting grows from the leaf axil 
of a flowering stem. 
2 Top Cutting is an overgrown heel 
cutting and should be cut or broken to 
desired length at a node. 
C Avoid cuttings from the upper part of 
the flowering stem. This would produce 
weak plants. 
D Rooting is the infancy phase of 
plant’s life —so proceed with watchful cau- 
tion. Use clean sand, clean cuttings well 
trimmed. (Cut at a joint—Carnations root, 
only at a joint). Avoid drafts and keep 
sand moist, not wet. Bottom heat hastens 
rotting but is not essential. With bottom 
heat of 60 to 65 degrees, using a rooting 
compound, roots will form in about 15 
days. Protect cuttings from direct sun, but 
do not obstruct good ventilation. Remove 
from .sand when roots are 14” to 34” 
long. 
CARE from the sand to the field or bench 
if summered indoors. 
A First Planting 
1 The first soil should not be high in 
nitrogen but should be loamy with humus 
—as a good compost soil. Use only clean 
fresh soil or sterilized old soil. 
2 Containers may be 214” to 214” pots, 
flats or wooden bands. Best results by far 
with 214” wooden spruce bands. The 
bands give best results because of more 
soil content, ease of handling in transplant- 
ing, and a saving of roots when benching. 
B First Topping 
1 When the cutting has made 6 to 7 
sets of leaves. 
2 Where—just above the third set of 
leaves in most .cases. This may seem se- 
vere but will give stockier plants later. 
C First Feed 
1 Time—shortly after the first topping 
while it is easy to apply. 
2 Amount—approximately 2 lbs. to 100 
sq. ft. of Vigoro or its equivalent. 
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D Watering cuttings, after planting in 
the soil—should be thorough the first time, 
then on the dry side for two weeks, fol- 
lowed then by keeping them evenly moist 
(not soggy), for best growth. 
E Second Feeding—at the same rate as 
the first. Should be applied about six 
weeks after the first feeding. 
F Second Topping—will be staggered. 
As the tallest shoots stretch up, top them 
about like the first stem. 
G Spraying with lime-sulphur and Bor- 
deaux is important as a preventative. 
1 Time to spray—first spray should be 
shortly after the first topping and subse- 
quent sprays every two weeks. 
2 Kind to use—Lime-sulphur (1 oz. of 
dry lime-sulphur to 1 gal. of water) or 
Bordeaux (4-4-50). Alternate the sprays, 
first one and then the other. The sulphur 
controls rust and spider better than the 
Bordeaux, which in turn is a better pre- 
ventative for rots. 
SUMMER CARE 
A Type of summer care will depend on 
the section of the country, amount of dis- 
ease present, and the inclination of the 
grower. . , 
1 Indoor summer culture may give favor- 
able results if the plants are well de- 
veloped at benching time (usually early 
May). Early propagation is a must in this 
method of growing. 
2 Field culture gives best results for most 
mid-West conditions. Plants should be 
planted in a clean field which has had no 
Carnations for at least three years, and 
they should be planted out as early as the 
weather will permit. Carnations will take 
light frosts. 
B Cultivation is important in both cases 
to loosen the soil for moisture control and 
to keep down weeds which harbor insects, 
and in the field cut down air circulation 
around the plant, which invites fungus 
growth. 
C Feeding should be light. In the in- 
door method the soil may become depleted 
more quickly. Apply 4 Ibs. of super- 
phosphate 48% at benching and top dress 
with 4 lbs. (per 100 sq. ft.) of Vigoro or 
its equivalent in June or early July. The 
plants in the field seldom need a feed if 
the soil was prepared properly. 
D Topping in summershould be a con- 


