. Cyclopedia of American horticulture, comprising suggestions for cultivation of horticultural plants, descriptions of the species of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants sold in the United States and Canada, together with geographical and biographical sketches. Gardening. 252 CARNATION CARNATION The preparation of the soil for the benches in the houses should be commenced the year before. If pos- sible, select a piece of sod—but other ground will an- swer—give it a good coat of stable manure and plow under. In the spring, add more manure or any fertilizer that the soil may mostl
. Cyclopedia of American horticulture, comprising suggestions for cultivation of horticultural plants, descriptions of the species of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants sold in the United States and Canada, together with geographical and biographical sketches. Gardening. 252 CARNATION CARNATION The preparation of the soil for the benches in the houses should be commenced the year before. If pos- sible, select a piece of sod—but other ground will an- swer—give it a good coat of stable manure and plow under. In the spring, add more manure or any fertilizer that the soil may mostly require, especially bone, wood- ashes and lime, if not already in the soil, plow again, and repeat the plowing two or three times during the summer. As to the texture of the soil, a loam that con-. tains some clay without making it too heavy, is prefer- able. It requires a rich soil and, therefore, the prepara- tion has to be commenced in time, so that the manures become decomposed and well incorporated, ready for assimilation. Light, roomy houses, with good ventilation, are re- quired to insure a bountiful crop. Whether solid or raised benches, especially for the latter, fresh soil is re- quired every season. Good drainage and an even fill- ing and packing of the soil insures an even, healthy growth. Strong-growing varieties should be planted 12-15 inches each way, less strong ones closer ; any crowding, when not diminishing the quantity of flowers to the square foot, will certainly degrade the quality of the same. Transplanting is an ordeal for the plants, and has to be done with the greatest care and dispatch, especially as the ordeal is often aggravated by hot weather during early transplanting. Points to be ob- served are, in the first place, a careful lifting. When the ground is sandy and loose, the ground may be shaken off, but when hard and baked, so there is danger of breaking the roots, it is better to leave a ball. In setting) plants should be cleaned of all de
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