BEET eR MUMS FOR 19.44 FROM GulgGele 
CARNATION CULTURE (Continued) 
tinuous operation so that the winter cut 
will also be staggered—always removing 
only one or two of the tallest stems at a 
time. For normal seasonal flowers, topping 
of red and maroon varieties should cease 
by mid-August. Whites and pinks can be 
topped till September 1st or later for a 
few short stemmed varieties such as Vir- 
ginia and Olivette. 
E Spraying in summer will depend upon 
the conditions at hand. 
1 No spraying in the field is necessary in 
most cases unless spiders appear. They 
are best controlled here with C.N. 10 
sulphur dust. 
- 2 Indoors the plants will be more subject 
to spider and rots. Bordeaux and lime- 
sulphur sprays should continue as during 
the cutting stage. Some syringing may be 
used, but it is not the best practice. 
F Watering in summer 
1 Some system of watering should be 
provided in the field for frost protection 
and for prolonged dry spells. Carnations 
don’t want too much water in the field but 
should not be stunted by lack of it. Dig- 
ging the plants at benching time is simpli- 
fied if they can, be watered shortly before. 
2 Indoor plantings should be watered 
thoroughly whenever the soil begins to dry 
below the surface. Avoid syringing as 
much as possible. It invites rot and rust. 
LATE SUMMER TO SPRING CARE 
A The two types of summer culture 
will determine the late summer pro- 
cedure. 
1 Field grown plants are usually lifted 
in mid-July, benched in fresh or sterilized 
soil and run on the dry side for a week 
or two. A mud shade should be used when 
benching. 
Take it off in about 10 days. Carnations 
want light. 
2 Indoor grown plants will be well es- 
tablished bv September 1st, and usually 
will have longer stems earlier than the 
field plants. 
B Fall feeding 
1 The indoor plants will need another 
feeding about mid-August to early Septem- 
ber. This should be determined by a soil 
test. Keep the nitrates above 15 parts per 
million, but not over 40. Another top 
dressing of Vigoro will be needed by mid- 
October, and about 2 Ibs. of potassium 
sulphate (48%) (Potash) November 15th. 
2 Field plants should be benched in a 
low nitrate soil (10-15 parts per million) 
which has a liberal share of humus (de- 
cayed manure or vegetation, and which has 
4 \bs. of (49%) superphosphate well in- 
corporated in it. The next top dressing 
may be 4 Ibs. of Vigoro or its equivalent 
MLE Kee 
per 100 sq. ft. about late September. By 
the first of November another application 
of Vigoro can be made at the rate of 2 Ibs. 
per 100 sq. ft. Two pounds of potash 
(potassium sulphate 48%) will be bene- 
ficial if applied in late November. 
3 No feed needed between late Novem- 
ber and mid-February. 
C Supporting—any method is good if it 
keeps the stems straight and allows for 
the maximum circulation of air. 
1 Most common method is stringing No. 
16 wire down the bench between rows and 
tying line strings between each two rows. 
Three sets of wires are most common, but 
we get best results with four, setting the 
first one about five inches above the soil 
to hold the plant upright early in its 
growth. 
2 Keep ahead of the growth with your 
supports. It is easier to train plants into 
wires already placed. 
D Watering 
1 Amount will depend on weather con- 
ditions, but the soil feel is your best indi- 
cator. Do not let it dry out and do not let 
it remain saturated for long. Water thor- 
oughly and not so frequently. 
2 How to water. Keep it off the foliage. 
Water from both sides of the bench with 
an open end hose. Water in the morning 
on bright days if possible. 
E Spraying, Dusting, and Fumigating 
1 Fumigation with liquid Fulex is the 
best control for spider and thrip if other 
crops are not in the same house with 
Carnations. 
2 Dusting with DN 12 sulphur dust con- 
trols spider but leaves a residue. 
3 Lorro or Lethane most used sprays for 
thrip and spider. Sprays for disease con- 
trol seldom needed in winter if ventilation 
is right. 
F Temperatures 
1 52 degrees nights is most suitable tem- 
perature but good results can be had at 48 
degrees. Temperatures of 40 nights are 
not profitable normally because production 
is reduced too greatly. 
G Ventilation is important for several 
reasons 
1 It drys the plant surfaces and cuts 
down the viability of disease spores which 
may be present. 
2 It drys the soil more quickly during 
cloudy weather, allowing for better soil 
aeration. 
3 It tones up the plant by supplying 
more oxygen and sweeping away the waste 
gases. 
H Cutting Flowers 
1 When to cut will vary with the season 
and variety, but as a general rule the 
