AN AMATEUR’S PRIZE WINNING BORDER CARNATIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 21, 22 May 1912, Page 40

AN AMATEUR’S PRIZE WINNING BORDER CARNATIONS.

The following are a few points in the cultural methods as adopted by Mr J. 1. McLaren, junior, of Dalmeny Park, neai Edinburgh, who is a successful grower and exhibitor, having won a good manjl prizes at shows iin Central Scotland, including Edinburgh. Dundee and Kirkcaldv. Last year’s stock numbered close on 200. and this year it will be something nearer 500. Any amateur who has perhaps the matter of three or four dozen plants knows the amount of work entailed in keeping them all going, not to mention the layering: but the results obtained are really worth the work, and in fact to do the. thing right one must keep in line with the new varieties which means an ever increasing stock. The matin points in Mr McLaren’s system are: — Deep and thorough culture ot the soil: efficient drainage: robust heal thv plants from good growers; novelty in variety: careful disbudding; a constant watch on mice, wireworms. earwigs. and greenfly; early layering and ear.eful potting up: and plants free from coddling. \s|’ElT AND PREPARATION OF BEDS. The beds lie with a fair slope towards rhe north and are sheltered from the prevailing winds. The plants do not have a verv warm position and on that account are rather late in voming into flower: this, however, suits the late shows in the district. Should earlier flowers be required, a part may be frail I ed and forced as necessary. The lander is selected in the autumn and well dug over. 2 to 21 feet deep, of course keeping the bottom and middle spits in their former positions. At the same time a good dressing of sand, road grit, broken shells and leafniould is worked in. together with a harrowload of old well-rotted cow manure to every S square yards or thereabouts. Beds are in consequence raised about 11 inches. Ea< h spit has a fair sprinkling PLANTING. In early spring the ground receives several dustings of soot and wood ashes, which are forked in. and the ground -till left rough. Ihe plants, which arc all from layers and have been potted up in 3 ami 4-ineli pots, wintered in th" fi.inn-, and carefully hardened off, are planted out at from 15 to 1H inches apart, choosing a line day for the job. Where ground van be got it is advisible to plant wide, for thv back-breaking job of layering is lightened if there is room amongst the plants. After the plants have fairly got a grip, the hoe is kept constantly amongst them, and a dressing of common sail given on two occasions, and raked in

This keeps the plants healthy and clean, especially in dry weather. Frequent dustings'of soot on damp days are beneficial, along with a teaspoonful of Clay’s to the ‘’lazy” plants. FORCING BY “COLLARS.” Disbudding is seen to as soon as possible leaving two or three buds on the weak growers and three to live on the vigorous ones. Crown buds of course are to be preferred, and are shaded or forced as found necessary. This shading and fording is done by means of “collars,” or small horizontal platforms of wood raised to the height of the flowers by supports. Each platform contains a small hole in the centre, into which the stalk is passed by means of a broad saw (nt from the edge of the platform. The bud. which is then above the vollar, is either shaded by a flower pot or forced with a tumbler or jam pot placed upside down on the platform.—" The Gardener/’