CARNATION LAYERS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 99, 20 January 1939, Page 16

CARNATION LAYERS

Transplanting Time Now

The sooner carnation layers tan be transplanted, once they have taken root the more chance have they o£ forming additional fibrous roots before centre of the layer, and an upstanding of the leaves generally, are signs of root formation. To be quite sme that the layers can be moved, thou >’ l b best to examine a layer by carefully scrtioiiuX away the soil. Transplanting should follow three definite stages—the severance of the Uyers from their parents, the preparation of the planting site, and the actual planting. On no account lift the layers immediately after parting them from the main plant. The shock would be too "rent and growth would fail. ° Do the cutting four days before lifting. Avoid disturbing the mound of soil in which rooting has taken place. Take a pair of sharp scissors and cut through the connecting stem just about where It enters the soil. While waiting to lift, prepare the new site—a raised bed or border where the three faults of shade,! bad drainage and cold draughts are non-existent. Make every effort to bring the sou into line with the carnation requirements. If it is heavy, dig Ift. deep and mix sand freely with It, breaking up the soil finely. With every square yard of upper soil mix half a pailful of lime rubble broken to the size of hazel nuts. There is nothing to touch this rubble for producing tip-top carnations. If you can’t get rubble, use a little slaked lime. When the bed is finally raked down and firmlv trodden it should stand about 4in." above the surrounding level. Water the layers the day before lifting. Lift each separately with a nice ball of soil, cut back further, if necessary, any unrooted portion of old stem, to prevent decay, and plant Ift. apart with a trowel. Only just bury the roots, and firm them In as hard as you can with your knuckles. Remember that deep planting is the greatest handicap you can inflict on a carnation.

i Water through a rosed can, and repeat as necessary till the plants stand erect.

ROSES

Need Lime Now

Whenever you attend to your ; roses, as when feeding and mulching them, and whenever you have to tread on the bed. you are doing something which militates against the sweetness of the soil.

Toward the end of the season this condition becomes acute. You may have a soil full of food but, owing to the acidity, the roses growing in it cannot get what they need to open the'.- last flowers.

It is for this reason that an early liming does such a power of good. Prove this by lightly stirring in now a loz. a square yard dressing of freshly-slaked lime. Water thoroughly to set'the lime working should the soil be dry.