Ghote _ 
Excellent results have been obtained by giving a light liquid feeding ten days to two weeks after bench- 
ing. Subsequent feeding and watering should be adequate to maintain active, vegetative growth con- 
stantly. It has been found that weak liquid feedings applied every two weeks during the bright weather 
is considerably better than heavy feedings once a week. We also feel that to grow good carnations the 
growth must be kept soft and lush; never check the growth of a carnation plant. 
Information on cropping time is by no means complete, but it is apparent that with experience timing 
will be more accurate than with other methods of growing. One reason is that the first crop of flowers 
from a single pinch tends to be grouped more closely than when plants have been pinched several times. 
The subsequent crops are more scattered, 
The comeback with this method of growing has been more rapid than with other methods. On a number 
of varieties, the second-crop shoots have attained considerable length before the first crop is cut. This 
comeback rate is significant in achieving a good total production yield. One of the country’s outstanding 
carnation research men has this to say about production with the direct-benching single-pinch method: 
“We do not think we are sacrificing production and are certain that the production obtained can be 
timed for best market periods more accurately.” 
Several possibilities for adapting the method to commercial production already are apparent. In those 
ranges where culture is always under glass, no adaptation problem exists. The rooted cuttings can be 
benched as late or later than young plants that have been propagated much earlier and held in pots, 
bands, flats or transplanting bench. Experience has shown that the rooted cuttings, unchecked by extra 
transplanting, hardening, crowding, etc., move off faster and catch up with plants propagated as much 
as three months earlier, A major advantage enjoyed by the direct-benched cuttings is that they break 
much more freely from a single pinch. 
In those ranges where outdoor culture is practiced, adoption of the new method means throwing out 
the old crop from some benches after Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, etc. Since the demand for some 
colors (red notably) decreases sharply in warm weather, and also since some good winter-flowering 
varieties have decidedly inferior flowers during hot weather anyway, it should not be a handicap to 
throw out some benches and replant with rooted cuttings in May and June. Advantages gained would 
include among other things reducing the amount of field planting, cultivating, lifting and benching of 
heavy field plants, all of which are laborious and costly procedures. 
Direct Benching in Southern California in New Type Greenhouse. 
Open Ventilation — No Heating. 
