American Ce Carnation | Se Culture x wy Ie I. LAERBORM. lat jz Mak: a ov dition, . Siz eee \ SES OY Pitas is raed aap to mee = ‘mae ye AMBRICAN CARNATION CULTURE. (Dianthus Caryophy!lus Semperflorens.) ITS CLASSIFICATION, HISTORY, PROPAGATION, VARIETIES, CARE, CULTURE, ETC. . ™-- <"\ —— = ad 4 2 ix ik. lAMBORN, ExX-EDITOR OF OHIO JOURNAL OF FLORI-CULTURE, FLORIS, Ene. ‘Flowers are the alphabet of Angels, by which they write on hill and dale mysterious things.”’ ==tTHIRD EDITION.3==— ALLIANCE, OHIO, 1892. ‘eed Aes according to the Act of Congress, 1887 and pe Be —LORA L. LAMBORN,— In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. ip bra? 2 RES EDL Lion OF American Carnation Culture, /s Respectfully Inscribed to H. E. CHITTY, OF PATERSON, N. J., 4 Successful Carnation Grower, a leading contributor to the Carnation Literature of the times, and a friend of the author's efforts to make this work thorough and practical in its character. fntenduction ; HE grace of its form, its wide range of colors, added to its exhilarating fragrance, has brought the Carnation Pink into such commercial importance, that it is estimated 500,000,000 of its bloom are annually sold in America. : In the ratio that public attention is concentrated upon any given species of plant, will the number of its varieties increase, and the best methods be adopted to secure it in the greatest perfection. Out of the wultiplicity of kinds, critical public opinion will sanction only the ‘survival of the fittest kinds.” The Caryophyllus branch of the Dianthus family of plants is now passing through this active phase of its history. There are about 10,000 Florists in America handling from a few, up to 50,000 Carnation plants annually; there are about 200 named varieties of Carnations which are, or recently have been, candidates for public favor. There has been great confusion as to kinds, and as to treat- ment. In 1886 we published the first work on this genus of plants, confining our. labor chiefly to “‘Dzanthus Caryo- phyllus Semperflorens,’’ and so far as this species was con- cerned. attempted to bring some order out of chaos; our efforts were appreciated, in two years the edition was exhausted and the demand for the work continued. We present the work again, to which is added a list of new and improved kinds, and four additional years of the cultural experience INTRODUCTION. of American Carnation growers, bringing the work up fully abreast with all the wisdom on this subject to 1890. Though not a matter of great importance, but to round into completeness the history of this plant we heve given the lists of kinds that have claimed public attention in America, and credited them with the names of the parties with whom they originated. The coming student of Floral History may find in this work some facts rescued from the wasting hand of time. The amateur cultivator of Carnations will find a certain guide for his efforts. The inexperienced Florist will see plain directions to secure success. Experienced Cultivators may find sufficient of interest and profit, to pay them for their perusal of its pages. L. L. LAmBorn. “Uy —S CONTENTS, CHAPTER 1. Commercial Importance of Carnations — Value of the cut- Flowers — Statement of John Thorpe — Number of Florists in America — Area of Surface Covered with lass =" apital: InVvestedisd-s saw tik ae Sr cee oR. Ko acon 6 CHAPTER II. Carnations not Naturally Green-house Plants — Amateur Treat- ment of Carnations — The Mode That Insures Success — How to Make a Carnations Bed —How to Bed Them Out The Time to Procure the Plants — The Kinds to Pur- chase — Treatment for Summer Blooming -— Treatment for Winter Blooming....... BRT a i te Os eR NN a CHAPTER III. Origin of Ever Blooming Carnations — When — Where — By Whom, Jean Sisley’s Statements — On Propagation — Temperature — Cultivation — Carnations Known to the INTICTENSs.-- «6 os ea eee Ante athe o aANhiehs cin abot a wh Saree CHAPTER IV. Difference Between a Hybrid and a Cross — Specie — Genus — Order — Class — How to Hybridize and Cross — How to Select Parents — Gastner’s Statements of Chances— Hybridizing and Crossing in the Animal Kingdom...... PAGE poh =~] 29 10 CONTENTS. CHAPTER V. Botanical Classification of Carnations — Parents of Existing Kinds — D. Barbatus — D. Plumaris — D. Chinesus — D. Caryophyllus — The Esteem in Which These Plants Were Held by the Ancients — Number of Species — Na- tivity — Origin of the Word Dianthus — How to Propa- Pra cia ake cas Ane ee ae Lak Monivent otha tit CHA PER: VI. Nature’s Method of Multiplication — The Florist’s Method — The Time to Propagate Carnations — The Kind of Cuttings to obtain — The Sand— Temperature — John Henderson's Views — How to Avoid Decadence — Time Required for a Cutting to Root — Object of a Plant’s Hxistence.......... CHAPTER VII. Area of Leaf Surface of a Plant is the Measure of Moisture it Re- quires — The Moisture is Required by Carnations — Cause of Carnations Decaying at the Root — Bench Drainage — Pot Drainage — Difference Between Watering and Spray- ing —- When to lift Carnations from the Open ground.... CHAPTER VIII. Routine of Carnation Culture for Cut Flowers — Rooting Cut- tings -- Hardening Off Cuttings -- Time for the Field Planting -- Kind of Soil inthe Field — How to Plant in the Field -- Cultivation in the Field — How to Lift — Soil on the Benches — Distance Apart on the Benches and in the Field — Treatment When Planted on the Benches — How to Carry Plants for Spring Sales in Pots — To Se- cure Early Out Door Bloom — How to Plant on the Benches... .7 5.2 cs eles ie ms eq eee ee ee PAGE. Bo 388 40) CONTENTS. CHAPTER IX. How to Pack Carnation Plants for Shipment — How to Ship Cuttings — How to Ship Rooted Cuttings — How to Ship Carnation Flowers — The Proper Shipping Label — Ef- fect of Moisture on Carnation Flowers — Difference Be- tween a Matured and Immatured Carnation Flower...... CHAPTER X. The Cause of Decadence of the Older Kinds of Carnations — How to. Renew Native Vigor in Carnations — Individuslizing the Flora! Business in America — The Natural and Arti- ficial Life of a Plant — Hereditary Weaknessand Streagth CadRe EodeRPNE Sees or chat Sue Fs Sen RS hs ete agin yi va eo Bote CHAPTER XI. How to Grow Carnation Plants for Autumn, Winter and Spring Sales in Pots— How to Grow Large Attractive Plants — The Kinds Best Adapted to Pots — The Most Saleable Colors — The Diffcrent Sorts to Grow for Fall, Winter and STEGER opr mine eee Ona are Sec MMOS Rae See CHAPTER XII. Diseases of Carnations — Remedies — Insecis — Remedies — Root Fungus — Aphis -- Red Spider --- Carnation Twitter -- Brown Mould — J. Talbies’ Statements Before the Society of American Florists at Philadelphia CIIAPTER XIII. Cause of the Calyx Bursting in Carnations — The Ideal Carnations of the Future — Means Adopted by Nature to Prevent Bursting — Defective Description Given of Carnations — Difference Between Early and Late Bloomers — Difference B-tween Crop and Continuous Bioomers ial PAGE. 2) ~ 61 =~! +" ~~ 12 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIV. Nature of the Physical Qualites of Carnations — Determined at the Moment the Seed is Fertilized — Early, Medium and Late Bloomers — Winter and Summer Bloomers — Dwarf, Medium and Tall Growers — Shy, Average and Profuse Bloomers— Lists of Superior Kinds...........-..-..--005 CHAPTER XV. The Blooming Qualities of Carnations Compared with Other Plants — Kind of a House Best Adapted to Growing Carna- tions — How to obtain the Best Flowers and the Greatest Quantity — Relative Market Demand for Different Colors-— The Kinds to Stake — The Different Branches of Carnation Growing — The Average Price for Carnation Flowers— Profits “of Camation Growint..: 0.0% .00sS <<). 2-8 yee CHAPTER XVI. How to Grow Carnation Flowers the Year Round — The Varieties to Grow for a Succession of Bloom — Types of Classes — How to Make Late Kinds Bloom Early -- Seedlings for Eun in, Se ier eEOR TES LUC ese fh CHAPTER XVII. Artificial and Self Fecundation of Carnation Seed — The Time to Fertilize — The Time to Gather the Seed — The Time to Sow the Seed — Views of Edwin Lonsdale -- Chas. [. Starr’s System -- The Pedigree of the Coming Good Wintdssc5 280 V's acs eho oo Ss CHAPTER XVIII. Chromatics -- Nomenclature in Chemistry, Music and in the Science of Colors — Carnations with a Solid Color — Shaded — Flaked — Penciled — Mottled — Dotted — A New and Proper Classification of Carnations, Based on Halgt-.of Plants and Fheir. Color. i.-...'. vex. seeee oe eee PAGE i) 81 89 94 CONTENTS. 13 CHAPTER -XFX. PAGE. Kinds of Carnations Grown for the Different Markets of the United States ---- Flower Merchants ---- Commission Men — Difference in the Price of Flowers, Wholesale and Re- tail — Home of the Dianthus Order of Plants — The Car- nation Growing Belt or Europe and America -- Effect of the Temperate Zone-on Tropical Plants... 02.6000 .0 1... 98 CHAPTER XX. Correspondence — John Henderson -- Edwin Lonsdale ---- Nanz & Neuner —-- Deny Zirngiebel — Mrs. E. L. G. Campbell —C. W. Reed ---- Hill & Co. — Jordon Floral Co. — W. K. Harris — Chas. T. Starr — Walter Coles — Robert Craig — W. C. Wilson —R. 8S. Brown & Son -- Peter Henderson —- Miller & Hunt— Thomas Seal —B. A. Maiapeee Oa ere Visas 2 rete ei bask pitas ot aes ee 105 CHAPTER XXI. Hardy Scotch Pinks — Difference Between Pinks and Carnations — Value of Pinks — Their Beauty and Usefulness -- New and Improved Kinds — Mode of Propagating Pinks — Kinds used for Forcing — Names -- De scription -- Cata- logue List -- Best Kinds Cultivated in Europe and Amer- ica -- Chas. T’. Starr on Hardy DS. oe a ees eae ad ee 111 CHAPTER XXII. Tomatoes in Connection with Bench Carnation by Wm. Swayne -- Advantage to the Carnations -- Time to Sow the To- mato Seed -- How to Plant Them on the Benches -- How {o Fertilize -- How to Prune the Vines -- Time They Be- gin to Ripen Their Fruit -- Profits on Tomatoes -- Carna- tions Bloom Three Weeks Longer with Tomatoes......... 119 14 CONTENTS CHAPTER XXIII. Nearly 200 Carnations Catalogued,. Classified and Described — Divided into ‘Old,’ ‘New’ and ‘Scarce’ Kinds -- Thirty New and Valuable Sorts that will Appear in 1887 and 1888 —- Synonyms of Existing Kinds -- Parents of American Sorts —— English and European Varieties -- Carnalions in California -- Names of Persons with whom the Varieties Originated -- Dr. Denney of England................... CHAPTER XXIV. Complete Catalogue of White —- Scarlet -- Pink -- Crimson —- Yellow — White-variegated —- And Yellow-variegated Clusses of Carnations ---- Epilogue to First Edition...... CHAPTER XXV. Recent Improvement in Carnation Culture on size of Field Grown Plants — Repetition of Carnation Crops on Same Ground — Temperature on the Benches -- Earlier Lifting -- Car- nations Withoui Balls of Earth -- Depth of Soilon Benches -— Hot Water and Steam Heating -- List of New Kinds... CHAPTER. XXVI. Origin of Plant Life — Cell Germ — Growth by Cells --- Circula- tion in Plants --- Respiration of Plants --- Food of Plants = Bipniaal Plants, 22 ck oo lawoe sehen Soe “ia CHAPTER XXVII. The National Flower of the Republic -- Its Requirements --- Qualifications fully met by Dianthus --- Why it Should be chosen2s. . G02 vein ee el A ee CHAPTER XXVIII. The Cause and Cure of the Versatile Habits of Carna- tions—Solid Beds vs. Raised Benches for Carnations —Tables of the productiveness of Carnation bloom— Registered list of new Carnations........... ..-06 eoeeees 128 153 179 CARNATION CULTURE. 15 Botartiical Parts of a Carnation Flower. Sige re aarp ss oo) Sie ee ae Peduncle,—Stem that bears the flower. feeceptacle,—Urper end of the Peduncle. Calyx,—Cup that surrounds the Corolla. Bracts,—Supports arond the base of the Calyx, Corolla,—The whole of the blossom. Petals,—A leaf of the blossom. Stamens,—Male organs in Centre of blossom. Anthers,—The enlarged ends of the Stamens. Pollen,—The fertilizing dust on the Anthers. Filaments,—Stems of the Stamens. Pestil,—Female organs in centre of blossom. Stigma,—Enlarged end of the Pestil. | Sygle,—Stem of the Stigma. Ovary,—Contains the unripe seed. Ovules,—The unripe seed. Pericarp,—Seed vessel containing ripe seed. Valves,—Parts, or sections of the Pericarp. Seed,—Rudiments of a new plant. Poe NACNITUDE OF CARNATION CULTURE, a CUTAP PEAR: (0k, “Tis my faith that every flower enjoys the air it breathes.” @-@ HERE are two classes of persons who will read these pages ; one who is a disinterest- ed lover of flowers, and delights to possess il and cultivate the most beautiful, symmetri- cal, fragrant and enduring flower that blooms. The other class is less sentimental. Their prac- tical enquiry is, what varieties of Carnations will afford the most saleable bloom, and yield the most flowers for the market? What treatment of the Carnation plant will secure the most profitable results? How can I get my Carnation plants in pots, in the best condition for sale? How can I hybridize, save the seed and secure my chances of obtaining novel and improved varieties, &zc. ? These and many other questions of a_ practical nature, bearing on the cultivation of the Carnation, will, it is hoped, be fully and clearly set forth in the following pages. ‘ 18 CARNATION CULTURE. The capital and labor invested in Carnation cul- ture has become so great that some authority on the proper routine of the business has become impera- five. As regards the magnitude of this industry, I have no more reliable statistics at hand than those given by John Thorp, President of the Society of American Florists, at Cincinnati, in August 1885, he says: “There are not less than eight-thousand Florists engaged in the business, | either growing plants, or raising cut-flowers for sale. Allowing four hundred feet of glass covered service to each Florist gives us a total of three million two hundred thousand square feet of glass, in other words six hundred and _ thirty acres. Calculating that half of the glass structures are used for growing plants, and one-third of the space is actually covered with them, and average the size of pots used at three inches in diameter, and allow- ing two crops each year, the number of plants would be about forty million. The remaining half of the glass structures are used for the purpose of growing cut-flowers; the actual number produced is almost incredible. I can state, however, that during the past season, beginning with November and ending with April, nine large growers of roses sent into New York market, close upon four million of flowers, and when I state, this was not ‘fifty per cent of roses sent to New York alone, the magnitude of Rose growing will be imagined. The roses grown arround Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Cleveland, Chicago, Washington and all CAYRNATION CULTURE. 19 other places could not be less than twice as many as produced for New York market. This would bring up the number of cut roses produced during the past season to twenty-four million. It would be very safe to multiply the number of Carnation flowers produced in the same time from all sources, by at least five. This would give one hundred and twenty-five million, fabulous as it may seem, I feel that my calculations are rather under, than over the actual number placed on the market. It would, moreover, be safe to state that at least one- fourth as many roses and carnations are annually raised by amateur gentlemen, which represents as much value as if thrown on the market and_ sold over the counter.” According to the above statements, there were one hundred and sixty-five million Carnation flowers raised from Nov. 1, 1885 to May 1, 1886 under glass. Granting President Thorp’s estimate to be cor- rect, it embraces but six months of the twelve. There are eight months in the year in which the market demand i is about equally active, and the call for Carnation flowers’is in nowise extinguished during any part of the year. The sale of flowers of this plant during the un- estimated six months would be half as much as dur- ing the six months estimated. If growers realized twelve dollars per thousand for the bloom, it would make an aggregate of three million of dollars per annum. 20 CARNATION COLTURE, This estimate is based on the sale of flowers alone, and does not include the sale of blooming Carnation plants in pots, made annually by eight thousand Florists .in this country. To this growing industry, which now aggregates over three million dollars, in which I have been a practical participant from its infancy, I give, in this work, much wisdom gathered from other growers, as well as my best experience and practice in suc- cessful Carnation Culture. Cte be 2. TOPULAR CARNATION CULTURE. desire in this chapter to clear up some pcpular errors, and make it plain to every-cne, how they can successfully grow the Dianthus, which is from two Greek words, signifying the “Divine Flower.” The Carnation is the most popular flower erown, if we may except the Rose, and it is much easier managed than the Rose, witha very little care the success in growing Carnations is assured, this is far from the case with amateur management of tke Rose. It is the greatest mistake to think that Carna- tions can only be successfuly raised in a Green House-they are not naturally a Green House plant ; they are hardy at any temperature above zero, some few varieties are less hardy than others however, but the specie is a native of cold high /atitudes. The plant roots better in a low temperature. They are easily forced, or compelled to yield their blocm out of their natural season, and their bloom being valuable, is the reason why hundred of acres of glass is devoted to forcing Carnations by heat into flowers. It is not because it is a tender Green House plant. 22 CARNATION CULTURE. The Carnation blooms freely out of doors dur- ing August, September and October, and would continue to do so for months, did not frost prevent. If in this latitude they are properly lifted and put in a six inch pot, they will with little care, bloom on the window sill till the following June. The greatest difficulty is that the atmosphere of the sitting room is too warm and dry for them, but thisis by no means fatal. Now suppose you try a few Carnations; you send for some young plants in the spring, say April or May, I mean young plants. It is the nature of the Carnation to live only two years. Large plants that have been carried in bloom through the winter, are more attractive, but worthless, haveing about lived their allotted time. The plants when received are small and will not make much show in a bed and you may feel dissatisfied. The Carnation bed is to be deeply dug up and enriched with well rotted manure, entirely free from standing water and of upland nature. As the plants are almost hardy, they may be put out in April or May. If they have been properly hardened off prior to being set out, a smart freeze will not injure them. Through summer they will push up flower stalks, which should be broken off within five inches of the ground, if the plants are designed for Winter flowering; this conserves the vital forces of the plant for its blooming efforts in winter. If it is not designed to lift and pot them in the fall, this topping process should not be done. CARNATION CULTURE. Pie The little Carnation plants should be bedded out ten inches apart, each way. If the biennial nature of the Carnation plant was understood by the people, that is if they but knew it was the character of the plant to live and flourish through but two seasons, and that they must procure young plants every season, the com- plaint that they can not succeed well with the Carnation would be ended, and the sale of this class of plants would be doubled. There is no dispute as to the wants of the people for this artistic flower, and there are no plants that bear transportation so well, or that are furnished by Florists at so small a cost to the purchaser. You are now going to send for some small Carnation plants. You are troubled as to kinds and colors. Accept the classification of colors adopted in this work, which system is adopted in Zirngiebel’s list, viz: Crimson, Scarlet, Pink, White, Yellow, White variegated and Yellow variegated. One dozen different Carnations selected from these classes will comprise the most desirable shades of colors and markings. You can send for your plants toa firma thousand miles away, they will arrive safe by mail or express and almost surely grow when they are put out, if planted on arrival, in small pots or in’ shallow boxes of soil, not over-watered, and protected from too much midday sun for a few days. They will then bear full exposure in moderate weather, after which they may be planted out where they are to remain all summer. 24 | CARNATION CULTURE. Plants will become more bushy if cut back for a time, but their bloom will be retarded. If summer flowers are desired only, let the plants be tied to neat stakes as they grow, and buds and flowers will soon appear. If the grower will be satisfied with later flowers, cut back the young plants until July rst or after, and thus have several stems instead of one, and each stem will develop nearly as many buds as the single stem. If desired mainly for winter bloom in the Louse, they may be cut back until August 1st or after, and at the approach of frost carefully taken up and pot- ted in six-inch pots. These pots should have an inch of drainage in the bottom, to counteract the effects of to much water. Small pieces of pot- tery, brick or gravel answers well. After a few days shade, they may be placed in any situation in or about the house that» is airy and sunny, and yet not exposed to cold winds. During the Winter they should not be placed. in too warm aroom, and the foliage should be often thoroughly sprinkled with cold water. This care will prevent the ravages of the red spider, one of the enemies of this class of plants. The soil should not be kept too wet at any time, but if sometimes a little dry, plants will not suffer. CElLAP GER LT ORIGIN OF PERPETUAL CARNATIONS. @.N another chapter it will be explained how dob ‘ “hybrids’ and “crosses” in Carnations are 1° obtained. ‘This chapter has reference to the ke origin of the fst hybred perpetual Carna- tion, by whom produced, and where obtained. All of this I think is set at rest by that venera- ble and devoted lover of flowers, Jene Sisley, whose first double white Geranium (Jene Sisley) has spread his name as wide as floral literature is read. lie. temperature: he (andieates, 4s (proper, in which Carnation cuttings should be struck, is cer- tainly very much too high, but his personal knowledge of the origion of this class of plants establishes facts, which will grow in interest as time goes on. I quote entire a communication, written by him for, and published in the 14th No. of the American Florist. Sisley says: ; “In the “Revue Horticole” of February last, a remarkable article was published on the present state of perpetual Carnations. The writer in the Revue asks:" ‘“Where.and how was the culture of the perpetual Carna- tion commenced? Who is the Horticulturist and who first applied himself to it? then says: ‘We do not know.” 26 CARNATION CULTURE. I think therefore it may interest American Hor- ticulturists and amateurs to be imformed of its history; which I published ten years ago in a paper which had not a wide circulation and in consequence I copy as follows: ‘According to several Horticultural writers, the Carnation was cultivated more than 2000 years ago. But we know no more of what was practiced in those times than in any other science, and as it is only since the beginning of this century that the facts of nature have really been studied, and we can only relate what has lately been practiced. The perpetual Carnations have been created at Lyons. It was M. Dalmais, gardener to M. Lacene, a celebrated amateur; and founder of the first Horti- cultural society ofthat region, who obtained the first really constant blooming Carnation; about forty-six years ago. He sent it out in 1844 under the name of Atim, the production of artificial fecundation of a so called species; known by the vulgar name of Carnation of Mahon, or of St. Martin, the latter because it was blooming by the middle of November; fecundated by Carnation Bielson This first gain was successively fecundated by the Flemish Carnations, and about 1846 he obtained a great number of varieties of all colors. M. Schmitt a distinguished Horticulturist of Lyon, followed M. Dalmais and obtained several fine varieties like Arcenciel and _ Etolle Polaire, CARNATION CULTURE. a which were cultivated for several years, but do not exist now, having been superceded by better varieties. In 1850 a disease having destroyed his collec- tion, M. Schmitt abandoned their culture. Soon after Alphonso Alegatiere, the well known propagator undertook the hybridization of Carna- tions, and ina short time obtained great success, dotted that series with a great many varieties, all particularly dwarf and obtained a very great improvement by creating those with stiff lower stems about 1866. We can thus say that Alegatiere has created a new species. | He has also upset the old system of propaga- Men, that of layering, and has. proved © that propagation by cuttings is the best and most reason- able method and produces the best plants; and thus justified my saying that layering is the infancy of the Horticultural Art. And he has demonstrated that nothing is easier than propagating Carnations by cuttings. The best time to strike them, is in January and February and the best mode is to put them in a bench of fine sand, in a span roof house, without bell glasses. The benches being heated underneath by hot water pipes to 60 or 70 degrees. The cuttings strike root from three to five weeks. 28 CARNATION ‘CULTURE. The sand must be kept moist and the cuttings syringed every day. They can be placed out in April or May, and will soon make fine plants to bloom in Autum. Jene Sisley, Feb. 1886. Monplaiser, Lyons, France. ie is ¥ —— =fSTSRSIETE aT 5 CHAPTER: TV. HOW NEW VARIETIES OF CARNATIONS ARE OBTAINED, EW varieties of Carnations are obtained by hybridization and crossing. A cross is the » product of sexual fertilization between /wo ai Pinks of the same varzety. D. Hedawigt and D. Lancinatus, are two varielles. . The seeds of one fecundated with the pollen of the other, might germinate, grow, and blow a Pink different from either of its parents. This would be a cross. A hybrid is the result of the sexual union of male and female of different sfeczes. Dianthus Barbatus is one sfeczes; Dianthus Plumaris is another sfectes of the genus Dianthus order Digynia, class Decandria. The seeds of an individual member of one of the above sfecies, fertilized with the pollen from a member of the other sfeczes, would produce a hybrid Pink; likely to differ from the type of its parents in the ratio that they differ from each other. ~ Asarule, in both the animal and vegetable kingdoms, sexual unions takes place only between individuals of the same varzety. It is by the play of this rule, or law, that vart- eticsare indefinitely maintained with unvarying char- acteristics. 30 CARNATION CULTURE. Crossing in nature is not very common; hybri- dization is extremely rare. As a rule hybrids are not fertile. The progeny of the Horse and Ass, Sheep and Goat; Dog and Wolf; Caucasian and African, are sterile so far as reproducing themselves with themselves. But in a majority of cases, in both Kingdoms, the hybrid will breed with one of the original types back into that type. Nature revolts at hybridization, and refuses to perpetuate the mongrel race. Crossing is very common by the intervention of the Florist’s art. He further circumvents nature by dexterously avoiding abortive sexual unions to perpetuate his choice hybrid, and indefinitely con- tinues and multiplies it by layers, grafts, and cuttings. | But hybridization is a much more difficult accomplishment. Gaestner, who is very high authority, says that out of one thousand carefully conducted experiments fecundation was achieved in only two hundred and fifty-nine cases. In hybridizing, it is necessary to prevent the flower used as the mother, or seed bearer, from being fertilized with its own pollen. The operator is favored by the fact that the pollen retains its vitality for some time after it is removed from the flower which produced it. It is probable that with this, as with seeds, the duration of vitality varies in different species; at all CARNATION CULTURE. 31 events, it is known that some pollen will keep for weeks, and even months.. The flower selected as the seed bearer, should be the most vigorous plant and taken just as it is about to open, and before any insects can have visited it; the envelopes are carefully opened, or removed, and if a perfect flower, its still unopened stamens are cut away with a delicate pair of scissors, the foreign pollen applied to the stizma with a small brush and the flowers enclosed in a bag of gause to prevent the access of insects, which would probably bring the pollen of some other kind to interfere with the action of the strange pollen. It is by following the process I have recited that the different varieties of Carnations have been obtained. The operation is delicate and the chances of obtaining a Carnation better than some existing varieties is less than one in a thousand. But this should not deter florists and amateurs from seeking to create new varieties of plants of every kind. It is the most fascinating part of a florists business to watch a properly fecundated seed from the tiny seed leaves to the mature plant. The developing bud has a center of interest that no other bud can have. Will the flower be double or single, large or small, white, red, yellow, purple? and a dozen other unknown possibilities existing to stim- ulate interest and curiosity, lies hidden within that calyx. Os iQ CARNATION | | | Hi Hera Tha y Hyd inna an dh ' he HA ; CULTURE. ! Al i Ii {Har any | { il z MUM A SW witil it ty ft | ! i | | An Elaborate Greenhouse For Carnations. eee Feu V, BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION OF CARNATIONS. Dianthus. From dios, divine, and anthos, a flower; in reference to the fragrance and the unrivaled neatness of the flowers. Linn. Decandria-Digynia. Nat. Ord. Caryophyllacee. %@ HIE Carnation belongs to a class of plants whose family name is Caryophyllacee of the genus Dianthus, order Migynta, class RT, Decandria. The Dianthus genus of plants includes annual and perennial herbs, with opposite, narrow, often rigid grass-like leaves, the flowers with their parts in fives; the long tubular calyx is five toothed at the apex, and bracked at the base. The five petals have very long slender stalks, or claws, stamens ten, styles two; the ovary ripen- ing as a one cell seed vessel; open at the apex by four valves and containing numerous seeds which are flat on the back, and of a blackish color. There are but few of this family which merits the attention of Florists. The books enumerate about 200 species; none of them natives of America except J). Refens, which is found on the coast of Kotzebues Sound, and other high latitudes. DD vArmnena ancy: iProlifica;:>found' | in the Atlantic states are introduced weeds. 7 34 CARNATION CULTURE. A number of the gexus are troublesome weeds, as Stelliaria Medza, the common Chickweed, so well known and troublesome in gardens through the cooler months of Autumn. The four varieties in which is centred all there is of floral value are: D. Barbatus, D. Plumaris, D. Chinesis, D. Caryophyllus, D. Barbatus is better known by the name of “Sweet William,” it differs from the other species by forming a flat top cluster, crowned with various colored small flowers. It is a native of Europe. ~ An improved straim called the Arricular flower- ed, is very fine, from the distinct markings of the petals, some of the double sorts are rich, and remain in flower a long time. It is a perennial, but usually treated as a biennial. Seeds sown in the Spring will produce plants for flowering the following season. Dianthus Plumaris, is a native of Europe, but naturalized in many other countries. It has several Botanical and common names, as Pheasant eye Pink, Bunch Pink, Cushion Pink, &c. It is a low hardy perennial, blooming early in the Summer. The flowers are of a pale pink color, petals fringed and a pleasant fragrance. CARNATION -CULTURE. 35 ~The improved varieties are double white, and double pink. Dianthus Chinesis, is a biennial, but flowers the first season from seed, and presents a great variety of colors in double and single flowers. It is very showy, but without fragrance. Seed saved and sown from D. Barbatus and D. Chinesis, will sport in endless varieties, in both form and color, in a bed containing hundreds of seedlings, there can scarcely be found two alike. DP ancimatus,:. Ls, -leddewtaon, and ..D. Diadematus, are sports of D. Chinesis, and are highly prized garden flowers. The Picotee -Pmk has the color making the variegation only on the edge of the petals in a broad or narrow band, and if it ramifies toward the center of the flower, it must be connected with the color on the edge. It is a cross or sport, or hybrid from the type or species mentioned. The Florists Pinks have the color between the base and edge of the petals, and in the whole flower, amust be in concentric circles. It is the progeny ae. Elumaris. D. Caryophyllus is found growing wild in the South of Europe. It is the fragrance of this variety resembling the Clove spice of commerce, that gave the /famzly name of Caryophyllus to the Pink species of plants. This has long been a favorite flower, and its cultivation, crossing and hybridization has produced the grand Carnation: of to-day. 20 CARNATION CULTURE. The Carnation Pink is the highest perfection attained from the wild single D. Caryophyllus. The Florists cultivation, crossing, and_ hybridi- zation, has been so successful with this class of plants, that there is little left to be desired. The range of colors attained is so extended, artistic, the grace of the flower so perfect, its durability so great, and _ its fragrance so delicious, that the Carnation now : takes its stand in the esteem of the lovers of flowers and in commercial importance and value, close beside the Rose. Dianthus comes from two Greek words dos, divine, azthos, flower. The ancients in naming this flower, even in its single undeveloped state, refers to its beauty, color and symmetry. The Rose receives a high ethical name, the “Queen of Flowers.” The Camelia, the “Rose of Japan,” the Chry- santhemum, the “Queen of Autumn.” In grace of form and neatness, the Carnation is the equal: of any other flower. | It is unrivaled in the wide variety of its rich tints of scarlet, crimson, rose and orange, in its pencilings of carmine and rose; its blotches and flakes of maroon and black, and in its peculiarly grateful and exhilerating fragrance; it stands without a peer, The bestowal on this flower of especial favors by nature, is recognized in a language 3000 years old. CARNATION CULTURE. ay If the Pink in its original primative simplicity was worthy the Greek name of do-anthos; the grand evolved Carnation of to-day more than merits to be crowned the “DIVINE FLOWER.” ——“The Sweetest Smile of Nature.” E iit Hh i ] | LL, a Ges eo eo Blak A tw PROPAGATING CARNATIONS ae ROPAGATION of plants by any process LP which imitates the methods of nature by ) which she multiplies her species, cannot be followed by any inherent weakness in the new CD 0 or its progeny. Striking Strawberry plants from the joints in the earth, in plunged pots; the division of the roots of the Blackberry; bending the canes of the Rasp- berry, that the top may touch and root in the earth; sowing seed and making the conditions favorable for cermination and rapid g crowth, are all imitations of Natures methods. But in the creation of plants, Nature mpeee upon the canes, or shoots of many of them, the possibilities under favorable circumstances of throw- ing out adventitious roots and thus become separate living organisms with all the lineaments of the parent plant. But Nature never propagated a Carnation by cutting a shoot, or incipient cane from the side of the old plant and bid it take upon itself a separate existence. A plant focalizes all its vital forces in the per- fection of its seed, and in the annuals and biennials, the circle of life is complete when this is done, and the plant dies. CANA TION CULTURE, 39 It is for this purpose alone that it lived. Nature has no green-house sufficiently conven- tional in which a Carnation cutting will strike root and live. The conditions under which many _ kinds will root at all, are so rigid, and exacting, that the ingenuity of man can scarcely achieve the result. In fact Nature revolts at this mode of muitipli- cation, but it is our only means to pepetuate kinds, and produce quantities. The Florist complies with Natures exactions and furnishes the conditions, and she reluctantly yields. if the dlarnst.sueceeds, in the | ditheult).task, it would be natural to expect a diterioated organism, and weakened life. | To avoid a natural decadence, it is of the first importance to start with a proper cutting, from a healthy plant and maintain for it the most favorable conditions. The most favorable conditions can be obtained from November to April. The cutting should be a side shoot from the plant or cane, about three inches long, and show no sings of shooting a flower stem. The slip can be broken off with the fingers, and put directly in the cutting bed, without the use of a knife, and they will as certainly root as if trimmed and smoothly cut at the end. The wet clean sand in the cutting bench is smoothed with a trowel and then cut, the trowel being gauged by a strip of lath. 40 CARNATION CULTURE. The cuttings are placed in this incision in the sand, which are two inches apart, and the cuttings need not be more than half an inch apart, the sand should be firmed along the line of cuttings with the point of the trowel, and further compacted around the cuttings by a thorough wetting. When a small number of cuttings are to be struck, a shallow box filled with sand can be used with more convenience than the bench. There are some advantages in using boxes when the plant is to be extensively propagated, the boxes can be moved around, giving the cuttings new facings to the light and air. Cuttings of the Carnation can remain in_ the sand a long time after being rooted. We have set out the cuttings direct in the field from the sand, and they made good plants by Fall. But we do not recommend this plan. An inch of soil in the bottom of the box and two inches of sand on the top, will afford root food for the cuttings, which would other-wise be weak. The cuttings should be Bh with a fine rose once aday, and they will root in about three weeks. The temperature should range from 45 to 65 degrees, and good ventilation maintained. A biennial involves the idea of a period of rest in the activity of the plant's vital forces. It would seem reasonable in the cultivation of this plant that this natural habit should be respected if the best results are desired. CARNATION CULTURE. Al Mr. John Henderson in his address before the Society of American Florists at Cincinnati, touches significantly on this point in the following language. “Oieinte years one of ‘the, most annoying diseases attacking plants is that effecting Carnations, and it is undoubtedly caused by working our stock year after year at a high temperature, which weakens the general vitality, and the diseases, be it a fungus or an insect. quickly follows. In the Fall of 1883, we had a surplus of two varieties of Catnmations and, father: than too throw them away we “heeled” them in, ina cold frame, put- ting straw mats on the glass in extreme weather. They wintered well, and in March we put in a few hundred cuttings of each; we marked them, and last Winter they were the best plants we had, not one of them dying off, while we lost hundreds of the same kind in our regular stock. And I firmly believe if this plan were adopted of wintering Carnations that the Carnation disease would disappear. Another and perhaps more practical way of avoiding the difficulty, we have practised for years, and that is to propagate our stock as early as_ possi- ble in the Winter, and after they have become established, knocking them out of the pots and putting them in shallow boxes in cold frames. This gives them some of the needed rest and the good effect is very marked.” 2 CARNATION CULTURE. ny (Myre o ( aes 4A A TYPE OF THE WHITE CLASS OF CARNATIONS. Crake bran ft VET, THE PROPER MOISTURE FOR CARNATIONS. ARNATION plants are impatient of wet undrained -soil, either in the field, on the NeissY) benches, or in pots. The physical structure Ninn of the plant convinces us of this without any knowledge of the fact practically. | Careful experiment has disclosed the fact, that one square foot of leaf surface will, during fair weather, exhale vapor at the rate-of one and a quarter ounces daily, at night the rate is one fifth as rapid as during the day, and Babe rainy weather a perfect equilibrium is restored betweed the exhal- ing and absorbing forces, and there is no evaporiza- tion. Comparing the narrow rigid grass like leaves of the Carnation, estimate the area of leaf surface with most other plants, and it will be seen the water evaporating capacity of the foliage, and consequent- ly the water absorbing capacity of the roots to be comparatively limited, so what would be. sufficient, moisture, or wet, for many other plants would be an excess, and deleterious to the Carnation. The Carnation likes a moist cool atmosphere, hence they should be sprinkled or sprayed frequently, but not too much moisture about the roots. The cause of Carnations on benches rotting off at the surface, is caused by too much moisture, in 44 CARNATION CULTURE. connection with them being planted in the bench soil higher or deeper than they were in the soil in which they grew in the field, and by bad quality of bench earth, the latter is fatal, no matter how open for drainage the bench boards are. | If the bench earth is made out of imperfect rotted, or spongy manure, and the Carnation planted too low, it will certainly decay at the root. The skin or rind of the stalk above and below . the surface differs as much as the mucus membrane of the mouth does from the epidermis of the cheek. Either can be converted and made to discharge the functions of the other under favorable conditions, but if circumstances are unfavorable there will be trouble in both cases, in the transfer of duties. This decay of the Carnation at the root is not a disease, it is simple mismanagement of the plant. The drainage of plants in pots must be perfect. Flat or shallow boxes in which cuttings are transplanted from the cutting bench, should have holes bored in the bottom of each box. Plants carried in cold frames must have perfect drainage. Plants lifted from the open ground and _ planted on benches for winter blooming, should be done after a rain, in cloudy weather if possible, with an unbroken ball of earth adhering to each root, when transplanted they should be sprayed, and the earth only moderately wetted. The soil on the benches should never be permitted to become sodden and sour. CARNATION. CULTURE. A5 Frequently spraying the Carnations after trans- planting as with other plants, discharges a_ two fold purpose in keeping with the scientific principle’ before stated. It does away with the absorbing labor of the roots, which can not for a time be discharged, by the reason of them being ruptured and displaced. ‘Then the evaporization of the sprayed moisture on the foliage absorbs heat as it passes into vapor, which iS erateful to the vital forces of the plant. The sand on the bench in which the cuttings are placed, should be quite wet and the cuttings daily dampened with a fine rose watering pot until they begin to strike root, when both top and bottom moisture can be somewhat reduced. Wet.is very damaging to the bloom of the Carnation, | The bloom should be picked before the bench is watered, and possibly this flower is the only one that is shipped to market, often hundreds of miles distance without the least moisture being allowed wowiut it, It is impossible to say how often this plant should be watered. As a rule they should be watered when they need it, and a dry condition of the ground, and the first signs of the plant flagging for moisture, shows they need it. The conditions are these: that Carnations do not need as much water, or as frequent applications of it as many other plants; that they rapidiy recover 46 CARNATION CULTURE. themselves after having suffered for the want of water without material injury; that a wet sodden soil is ruinous to the plant; that more harm results from over-watering than from under-watering; that experience as well as the physical anatomy of the plant, points to moderate moisture for the plant, and perfect drainage for the roots. i N@ 0 CHARTER, \Wibk ROULINE OF CARNATION CULTURE FOR CUT FLOWERS. UTTINGS, or rooted plants are obtained in he the early Spring months for the stock of We #, Carnations which are to be grown through ns the Summer for Winter bloom on_ benches. If the Florist propagates them himself, he is refered to the chapter on this subject. The plants should be hardened off in a cold frame, and as soon as all danger of freezing is over, planted out in the open Carnation field. A moderate freeze would not damage a harden- ed off Carnation plant, but the danger is, it may not be in this condition. A perfectly hardy plant is very tender when grown in a high temperature. It is hard to determine by sight; when it has attained its true resisting nature to cold. Whe chances ave it is'preternaturally tender, af rown in a glass house, even with little fire heat, Hence the precaution is so necessary to harden it off, before exposing it to the vicissitudes of the open temperature of the early Spring months. As soon as the ground can be properly worked, varying from the 2oth of April, to the 20th of May, in this latitude, it is made ready for the young plants. OR ca) 48 CARNATION CULTURE. It should be of a clayey nature, well under- drained heavily coated with finely rotted manure, deeply ploughed, thoroughly pulverized with a harrow, evenly rolled, and acurately marked out, both ways, having the crosses for the plants, ten inches apart each way. Holes are made with a foot dibber in which the plants are firmly planted. The plants are worked early and frequently during the season, both ways with “Planet” cultivator. All alleys, or paths through a Carnation field should be avoided. The weeders should throw the weeds in a box, or basket, provided with temporary ieet and handle, and carry them off the field. Carnations require to be kept free from weeds; this with breaking off the flower shocts as_ they appear during the season, is all attention they require until the latter part of September. By this date, the Carnation benches in _ the house, or houses are prepared for the plants by being filled with soil four inches deep, or if the benches were occupied with Carnations the previous year, it should be turned over, removing the bulbs of the old Carnations, and one-fifth of the soil and replenish with fresh earth to this amount. The balls of earth adhering to the roots of the plants will deepen the bench soil one inch. There is danger of having the soil on the benches too rich, and the bottom too light, this will not afford good drainage. CARNATION CULTURE. AQ All danger to a good crop of Carnation flowers lies in these two possible errors. If the soil is to poor, it is easily enriched with bone dust, liquid manure, or fine compost distrib- uted between the rows with the hands. I would fill the benches with good garden soil. The benches being ready, and taking the advantage of cool damp weather, the Carnation plants are lifted with a ball of earth adhering to each, which, when planted, will increase the depth of bench earth one inch. The adhesion of a ball of earth to the roots, cannot be obtained in sandy soil, but fortunately this is not the kind of soil suited to the Carnation. The operation of lifting is performed with a concave spade, one person using the spade, another seizing the ball as it is raised to the surface, and removing the surplus earth, places it slantingly in a box. The filled boxes are hauled ona sled to the front, or rear doors of the Carnation house. The Carnation field should be near the houses. | Five men will lift and transplant 20,000 plants on benches in one week. Excavations are easily made with the hand in the finely pulvarized soil on the benches, down to the bottom, in which the ball is placed, the point resting on the boards and the soil brought around it and firmly pressed. The plants on the benches being of medium size should be planted eight inches apart each way, and two inches from the margin of the bench. 50 CARNATION . CULTURE. All benches in Green-houses should have an air space intervening between the benches and dead wall. The plants being in place on the _ benches, should be freely sprayed and the soil moderately dampened. The doors and ventillators should be left open until required to be closed by severe weather, approching freezing, out side. The plants will not need shading, if lifted after a rain. a The necessary watering, ventillating, tempera- ture, weeding and fumigating, are all there is to attend to, except to pluck the flowers, until the follow- ing April, when the power of the sun will be so great that the plant will need shading by strong lime water on the glass. The lime water may be thrown on the glass with a syringe, or applied with a common white wash brush. A simple and cheap shading is made by mix- ing Naptha with a little white lead, so as to give it the color of thin milk and apply it with a syringe. The intensity of the sun rays mast be modified without materially lessening the light, if blooming .. Carnations are to be successfully carried far into the hot months in the house. The above mentioned means are the best Leroi and will remove themselves in the Fall after the first frost. 2 ae The early blooming kinds when they show signs of exhaustion, their vigor may be renewed by strong liquid manure. CARNATION CULTURE. Sa The earlier and later varieties, if watered and shaded, will continue to afford bloom until the first of the following August. After this the -bloom is so scarce, and the demand so light, the plants will not repay further care, and will die and leave the benches in the condition found at the commencement of this chapter. The best plants for Fall lifting and Winter blooming, are grown from cuttings taken from the plant as soon as the temperature 1s favorable for them striking, and before there has been much artificial heat applied; and carried until the following Spring in a low temperature. Carnations can be well carried through the Winter by filling boxes with the lifted plants and placing them in “cold frames. The smallest plants from the field, put in three inch pots and shifted into larger pots in March, will make fine pot plants for the Spring sales. Plants from the field can be lifted and heeled in, in a cold frame and potted in the Spring. If planted ten inches apart in a cold frame, and the sides of the frame removed in the Spring, they will bloom early and profusely. Mice are the greatest enemy to Carnations in cold frames during Winter. The varieties of Carnations to cultivate, most profitably, for cut flowers depends on the market to be supplied, and adaptability of plants to the soil of the locality. Our market requires three or four white Carna- tions to one colored. 52 CARNATION CULTURE. It is different from other markets. In a stock of 20,000 housed plants we would have one-half Snowdens, one fourth Henzies and Hendersons, the other fourth would consist of Seawan and Black Knight, crimson; Garfield and Lady Emma, scarlet; Grace Farden and Grace Wilder, pink; Chester Pride and Mrs Carnagie, white-variegated; Sunrise and Butter Cup, yellow-variegated. With this list we commence shipping flowers, from the houses, on October 1, and continue until the first of the following August. This stock requires 12,000 square feet of glass and will average fifteen flowers per plant. , 4a Wa gl os conan HOW TO PACK AND SHIP CARNATION PLANTS AND THE CUT FLOWERS. 1 Qy, that is the right way. There is a doubt ° fe whether that way is yet discovered. ‘There ART, are many ways of packing; if the right one was known, there would be but one mode. The field is open to an inventive practical mind. Carnation flowers are not as difficult to pack for transportation as other flowers. They differ in this repect, that they are always shipped dry. Light wooden boxes, of dimensions correspond- ing in size with the quantity to be shipped; is the best plan. They are not likely to be crushed and water does not effect them. The lid should be hung on hinges, and the box have an efficient clasp. Express Companies return these boxes gratutiously. The number of boxes needed is proportioned to the frequency of shipments and the number of patrons. | b&b}, HERE is but one way to ship cut flowers, Al inf A set of boxes will last two seasons. A box two and a half feet long, by fifteen inches wide and deep, will hold six or seven hundred Carnation flowers. 52 CARNATION CULTURE. There should be a light partition in each box equally dividing the space, the pressure of the flowers on each other is thus reduced, and they will open in much better shape * In quite cold weather the. boxes can be lined inside with sheet cotton tacked to the bottom, sides and top. Oiled paper should be between the cotton and the flowers. With this precaution, it is very rarely that Carnation flowers will be damaged by cold, even if thé thermometer should reach 20 degrees below Zero: In warm weather all lining is unnecessary except the oil paper. In very warm weather, and for a long journey, ice wrapped in woollen cloth and securely fastened to the bottom of the box, can be used to great advan- tage, if the moisture can be kept from coming in contact with the flowers. Moisture soon discolors and damages Carnation flowers. The Carnation flower should open and mature on the plant; an zzmature floweret will soon shrivel, a matured one is the most lasting of all flowers. They should be kept perfectly dry after packing, and thus shipped, at the end of a five hundred mile journey, will open up nicely. On some varieties of Carnations, the flowers mature in a close cluster of buds, such cannot be picked with a stem, while other kinds have a single flower on a long stem. CARNATION CULTURE. 55 Flowers with long stems command 25 to 50 cents per hundred more than those without stems; by reason, of the delay and expense of stemming which is avoided. Flowerets with their calyx torn are valuable; the process of stemming cures largely this defect. A package of cut flowers should be labeled very legibly. 3 The shipping tag should bear the date of _ shipment, this imforms the consignee the length of time the package has been on the road and thus locates the responsibility. The safe and speedy transportation of flowers often depends on the package being marked with a noticeble tag. The contents at once becomes known to the Express Agent, its perishable nature is obvious to him, and on many rail roads he is instructed to give such packages special care. The shipping tags adopted for cut flower packages by the Society of American Florists admirably serves its purpose. The Society is making arrangements with Express Companies that all packages bearing this tag shall have the care its contents demand. | I have so frequently seen the great advantages of this tag that I deem it proper to give a fac-simile of it on another page, and feel warranted in saying that every shipper of cut flowers should use it. An Electrotype of the leaf can be cheaply obtained at the office of the American Flortst, Chicago. On Or CARNATION CULTURE. RVR NIN IN NINN INN AN INNS EN EN EN EN ZENS ENON 3 QS < \ xs 8 % INAS : \ NX 2 rr SY : = SUN . or NS Ss: Yo 4| ie S\ Z 4 N = A 4 NS 3S Z 4 SS AY Py K . s Ze % SS = = Ki Ny 3S 2 4 ir s DB 4 Ny S , be Kf iy s % K iy N be 4| iv s Z “A SS S 2 oy cA “| oe ir le “4 Ee IS AY i ib K a ee . 5 ies 7 = [eo < K\ a Le % 4 eg SI K SHO Z % = DP 7 } < K Vi = Bs 7 —) +4 ow 5 SI = Zz = 7 @ z g aa @ HERE is no plant that produces as many re flowers, or as good ones, as the Carnation. The number on typical plants of floriferous ae, varieties often reach two hundred. The aabitiey of the Carnation flower is remarkable; flowers well matured on the stem, have been kept in a cool temperature, in a good condition twenty days. Immatured flowers wilt very soon. Some varieties of Carnations bear flowers more lasting than others; one kind has carried presentable flowers on the parent stem for thirty days. The best results obtained in raising Carna- tion flowers, is by devoting houses to them exclusively. The most convenient form of a house is 16 feet wide, and of any convenient oe heated by _ hot- water. The aisles need not be over eighteen inches wide, the three benches will then be wide enough for conveniently picking the bloom. To maintain healthy Carnation plants through the entire season, the temperature should be about 4o degrees at night, and ro or 15 degrees higher through the day. S2 CARNATION CULTURE. The plants will yield more flowers, and better ones, through the season, than if kept in a higher temperature. Tall growing Carnations should be staked, and the flowers stems loosely tied, air and light have a better chance around the plant, and to an extent prevents the calyx from bursting. The commercial demand for white Carnations is greatly in excess of colored ones. White is the ground work of floral designs. Growing Carnations for cut-flowers, for sale in pots, and plants for stock, constitute three branches ~ of Carnation culture. The growers of cut-flowers should confine © themselves to half a dozen of the best varieties of each class, selected with reference to their adapta- bility to the locality where the grower lives; early and late blooming qualities of the plants, with reference to succession of bloom. Some varieties esteemed the best in one locality, are regarded worthless in other sections. Some kinds of each of the seven classes, are better adapted to pots than other kinds. The grower after being settled in his purposes, should select a short list adapted to his designs. It is different with the grower who desires: to supply the market with stock. The habits of this plant are so varied, the tastes and fashions of the people so diverse, to meet which, he must propagate and carry a very large list. There are about two hundred named Carnations in Europe and America, possessing different degrees of merit. CARNATION CULTURE, 83 Ten selected from each class would embrac2 the really superior kinds. Many would reduce this estimate to one-half. But it must be remembered, the list is augmented, by the facts that some are the best in one section and not so good in another, some are Winter bloomers, others are better Summer bloomers, some for pots, others for benches, some are late, and others early bloomers, some are dwarf, others tall growers; some superior for fragrance, and the beauty of the flower varies as does the peoples fancy. The profit of growing Carnations for cut- flowers depends on the varieties, management of the plants, price of fuel, markets to be reached, &c. It is safe to estimate that a Carnation plant through the season will average twenty flowers, and ten square feet of glass will cover one hundred plants including aisles, and the price of flowers through the season will average ten dollars per thousand. Fancy varieties in some markets command Thirty dollars per thousand, The Standard forcing kinds can be marketed at Twenty-five dollars per thousand during the Holidays. By refering to “Practical Floriculture,” pub- lished in 1868, I see the colored sorts sold in New York market for Twenty dollars per thousand, and the white at Forty dollars per thousand. After August 1, prices run down to Five dollars per thousand, and so continue till November. 84 CARNATION CULTURE. Some growers ship their blooms to commission houses, and run the range of the market price. through the season, others make a_ season contract, the price to run, uniform between the periods'agreed upon. The importance of market reports of cut- flowers, has been met by the “American Florist,” a semi-monthly paper published in Chicago and. New York. | By this publication, growers can.see the ruling. prices for their products in Boston, New York,, Philadelphia, Chicago, and other places twice a’ month. 3 CHAPTER: XVI. GARNATION FLOWERS THE YEAR ROUND — MONTHLY AND REMONENT CARNATION. =a ARLY blooming varieties of Carnations will 1910 flower well in August, out of doors. Carna- tion plants under glass need not be aban- doned until the -latter part of July, if the houses are well shaded. There is here a period of two months in which Carnation flowers are not abundant. They fortunately are not in arent demand. during this time. To have out door flowers in profusion at this time, care must be taken to strike the plants early in the season, October or November. Plants from the field wintered in a cold frame will bloom three weeks sooner than cuttings. A bed of seedlings started in the Fall, from a good strain of seed will produce a large percentage of double flowers and help fill this gap. The circuit of the whole year will soon be filled with a list of Carnations whose zxz/erent nature, it is, to begin unfolding their petals in every month of the year. The list is complete now between August blooming Snowden, and April blooming uae City. : 86 CARNATION CULTURE. With the appliances of temperature; heading back; shading; selecting the proper varieties, and especially the time of propagating; we can now obtain with an ease that attaches to no other flower, Carnation bloom in profusion every month of the year. It must be remembered that when late and early blooming varieties are refered too in this work, that they are so according to the accepted time the stock is now propagated. Hinzies white by this rule is a late blooming Carnation. If this variety is propagated in October, potted up as it grows, keeping during February and March only ina slow growing condition, planted in the open ground in April, and not headed back, it can be housed the first of October with a profusion of buds and bloom, from which immediate pickings can be made. This is practical knowledge. The principle to be observed is the same as in many other plants, viz: A definite length of time must intervene between the severance of cutting, and the time the plant can attempt to reproduce itself, by flowers and seeds. This principle applied to other varieties of Carnations would doubtless be as successful in fowarding, or retarding bloom as we know it is with Hinzies white, the Carnation par excellent. Formerly, much more than now, a distinction was made between the wmozthly, and remonent varieties of Carnations. CARNATION CULTURE. 87 This distinction was very apparent, and neces- sary years ago. By hybridizing, and an extensive cross fertilizing this distinction is gradually disappearing. The races are being unified. There are however some well marked types of the above classes still in existence. “Monthly” Carnations as they were formerly called, are those that bloom early and continuously, with slight, or partial intervals in the production of their flowers, “Remontant’ Carnations, (occasionally called ice -Carnations,) are those that have their season of blooming, generally late. Types of bie: jerrst class migh,,be Pres. De Graw, Snowden, Grace Wilder, &e. Types of the second class might be Quaker City, Field of Gold, Eureka, &c. _ If these two classes are sufficiently dissimilar their progeny might scientifically be called a Wydrid, otherwise it would be a C7voss. Peter Henderson, Butter Cup, Century, &c., are the result of a cross fertilization of those two races. | The xature of the parents is plainly carried into the zature of the progeny, in an admixture more or less complete. The offspring of both parents are later bloomers, while one parent is an earlier bloomer than the other is sometimes. There is a marked effort at a succession of crops with partial and brief intervals. 88 CARNATION CULTURE. The children of these parents are vigorous growers, bearing fine large flowers, apparently healthy and long lived. If this is a fact it would point to them being the result of a cross, rather than that of them being hybrids. This possibly explains the language now used in discribing Carnations, viz: Early and late blooming crops, or continuous bloomers, &c., &c., which is but another way of refering to the parents, or the parents characteristics in the plant described. CHAPTER AVI. ARTIFICIAL AND SELF FECUNDATION OF CARNATION SEED. Z&, ARNATIONS produce, or perfect compara- tively few seed. Asa rule all double flow- ers are so at the expense of their powers to tug” multiply by the seed process. The absence of flower feeding insects in green-houses is a great cause of immature seeds in Carnations. The close contact of the calyx with the seed vessel and the tenacious adherence of the petals causes many seeds to rot from too much moisture. A seed vessel with its seed fully fertilized and matured, will contain about twenty-five black, or brownish seed. The time to gather the seed, is when they are found matured. This may be known by a brownish appearance of the seed vessel. Seed from a good strain, is worth in the market, $1.00 per hundred seeds. The first show of merit in a cross, or hybrid, is not often permanent. It may advance, or recede twenty per cent before it finds the level of its true existence. As arule, I think, they favorably develope rath- erthan retrograde. Genzal and generous culture, is the second agency for all large and double flowers. gO CARNATION -CULTURE. In the absence of these potential influences, they rapidly deteriorate and don the characteristics of the primative type. Seed sown as soon as it is gathered germinates much sooner than when it is kept long in a dry state. Chas. A. Starr’s, (a successful grower of seed- ling Carnations,) mode, is to plant the seed in March, or “April i in pots, or flats, READS them’ moderately warm and moist. When the second leaf is formed give them plenty of air. When they are large enough to handle, they are transplanted into pots, and in time, set out in the open ground and treated the same as Carnations from cuttings. Mr..),E., Lonsdale: , in’ ithe 19th... Nowa the American Florist says: “Experiments with seedling Carnations make a very pleasant pastime, with a possibility of fortune and fame. Few plants are more attractive “10 the enthusiast, the operations being not only easy, but soon realized on. Those who do not care to be bothered with the details of artificial fecundation should select the best and strongest plants of their favorite varieties and bed out when little attention would be needed. Let them be varieties which {iower at the same time, either from habit or by pinching the shoots back, that those which it is desired to cross be in bloom at once, and leave the rest to the insects and the wind. This is asserted by some authorities to be the best way to proceed with CARNATION CULTURE. gli a view to improvement, but if we have an ideal to produce, we must proceed wader conditions which we can control. This is best done in a greenhouse, and the time best suited is. from late summer to early spring. After making up your mind what combination of qualities you desire to produce, cast about for the component parts. For constitution, select a free flowering, healthy sort, and make it the seed parent; for color and general contour, one that possesses the desired characteristics and will furnish the necessary amount of pollen. Remove the petals from the flower which is to bear the seed pod, and carefully cut away the calyx, as it will retain moisture and early decay will result. | As soon as the seed is ripe, which may be determined by the seed-case assuming a brownish tint, carefully collect and sow at once. If the seed is not covered too deeply it will show signs of growth in from four to six days. The after treatment of the seedlings will suggest itself to all practical growers.” The Carnation bears a perfect flower of stamens pistil and fertilizing pollen. When a Carnation fertilizes itself with its own pollen, or with pollen brought to it by insects, it is said to be self-fertilized in contradistinction to artificial-fertilization, which is done by the removal of the anthers, and the application of foreign pollen to the stigma by human agency. Mr. Starr obtained Buttercup, Duke of Orange, Lady Chattin, Venus and Field of Gold, excellent varieties, from one batch of seed, a mixture of Astoria, La Puratie and Edwardsii. 92 CARNATION CULTURE. One of the most noted growers of new varieties of Carnations in América, to obtain unquestioned purity and vigor of the parent type, has imported from Europe a stock of D. Caryophyllus. With this some of the remote varieties will be bred, and beyond doubt with grand results. Seedlings stand the Winter well when sown in the Fall. With alittle protection they, will flower early the following Spring. A:majority of the seedlings grown, will not be worth saving, some will be single, semi double, and irregular flowering. They will all be interesting to the veseesiite physiologist who studies the play of vitalizing forces which works the varieties of kinds. In a former chapter some of the natural laws governing crossing and hybridizing, were refered to. In keeping with these laws, it will be noticed, the most promising varieties of Carnations, of recent introduction, by their dwarf habits, bushy growth, and comparative hardiness, have been bred back toward one of the original types. It is to Carnations with this kind of a pedigree that growers must look in the future for their most profitable kinds. The remote hybrids will doubtless continue to posess distinguishing, if not abnormal traits of color, size of buds, and require as they do now, a czesarian operation to be delivered of their petals. CARNATION CULTURE, 93 ‘a < ni Nz WA/~ A CARNATION WITH SERRATED EDGES.* . *In a fringed Carnation the edges of the petals are cut deeper and are more irregular, CHAPTER + soy iie COLORS.— CLASSIFICATION OF ALL CARNATIONS BASED ON COLORS. . N chromatics there is a wide and inviting field forarrangement and systemization. It is for the future to adopt a rational and uniform nom- enclature of colors. Chemistry has a splendid eetcin Music that lends its entrancing charms to the ear has one; while colors that offers equal pleasures to the eye has comparatively none. Aside frem the primary colors, and a few well understood shades.all is chaos. The only mode known, or adopted to convey intelligence of a shade is-by comparing it to some existing substance, that occurs at the instant, to the mind, that bears that shade. If the person addressed, is familiar with the shade of the sazdstance refered to, it gives him a good conception of the shade of color intended tobe conveyed by the comparison. If he has never seen the ¢Azug, or substance, it conveys no idea at all. The seven prismatic colors, violet, indigo blue, green, yellow, orange and red, are resolvable into three, yellow, red and blue. CARNATION: CULTURE. 95 * All other colors but these’ three, are compound leis arising from a: mixture of two or more of the prismatic colors. 1 : Black is the negation of all color, White 2 , compound of all the primary colors in certain exact proportions and purity. By a critical examination of Carnation flowers under a good microscope, it Seems that red, white and yellow are the grounds upon which all other shades of colors are ‘painted. The range of the red class is from maroon to the lightest blush of red. For popular convenience this range of colors is subdivided into a darker and a lichter class called crimson and scarlet classes. The yellow and the ground color of the yellow- variegated classes range from deep orange to light lemon shades. The white class from a tinye of cream or pink to an absolute purity of the color. The pink class is one for popular convenience, and ranges from cherry-pink to the lightest blush, from American Wonder to the flesh tint of Mrs. Joliff. Their is a small but increasing list of Carnations that have distinctive shades known as Rose Lake, or Magenta. The Century is suffused with this shade, Kaizer William has this color with a violet tinge and especially it is well marked in Fleta Fay Foster. To avoid too many classes this class is listed with the crimson as properly belonging to the dark shades. 96 CARNATION CULTURE. The old and almost obsolete division of Carna- tion into “self colored,” “Flakes” and “Bizzares’ should give place to the more rational groupings of red, white and yellow as christian names with sur- names expressive of the shade, pencilings, spots and flakes of the particular variety. That these are the zatura/ divisions of Carna- tions is evidenced by the different qualities attaching to each class in the way of hardening their floresence and vigor of growth. — A shaded Carnation is one in which two or more colors run into each other by _ insensible gradations. 3 A flaked Carnation is one in which irregular shaped colorings are impressed upon the petals always running from the base toward its margin. A penciled Carnation is one in which, fine, straight, narrow colored lines of different length run parallel with the axes of the petal. Oblong dots or spots occur in some varieties. A Carnation may be flaked, penciled, dotted and shaded, or it may be either. The variegated kinds range themselves under the two natural classes as the preponderance of the ground color might indicate. | _ Thus, Chester Pride is white with carmine pencilings. Buttercup is yellow, with vermillion pencilings. Sunrise is yellow, flaked with bright red. The pink class is a sub-division of the red class, but to meet popular requirements it is made a separate class. CARNATION CULTURE. 97 The seven classes consist ot White, Scarlet, Crimson, Pink, Yellow, Y ellow-variegated, White-variegated, It requires some forcing to get a few varieties into any of these classes, but nineteen-twentieths of all pass there naturally. No Carnation of a blue color has yet been produced. Natural laws may bar this result. Miranda isa rich plumb color. This color is a mixture of carmine and ‘blue. Much latitude must be allowed in the descrip-_ tion of the colors of flowers. The shadings of a flower on the same plant varies in different ages of its existence, and under different management. The human eye varies in its impressibility to colors from acuteness, to color blindness. Two persons with equally susceptible eyes to colors, will rarely describe a compound color the same way. CHAPTER |) XIX: THE VARIETIES OF CARNATIONS, GROWN FOR-) THE MARKETS OF THE UNITED STATES. ®. give in the following chapter, the kinds of sap. Carnations grown for cut-flowers, and flower- plants for the principal markets of this country. “ge, Also the prices now ruling for short and long stem flowers, to growers. Also the proportion of white flowers required by the markets relative to all other colors. It will be noticed the flowers of the Carnation of the future must be borne on long stems. Where two correspondents, from the same point mentions the same kind, the duplication of names are omitted. One-half of all the Carnation flowers sold in the United States are white. : The mode of cutting with /oxg stems is wonder- fully increasing the demand for other colors. The facilities for stemming a flower are not at hand, or is a knowledge of the mode possessed, by the average purchaser. So a flower without a stem cannot be readily utilized. Flower merchants deal in a perishable commod- ity, and are entitled, (if they buy out-righi) to a broad margin of profit. CARNATION CULTURE. 99 New York quotations of same date, generally say: ‘Carnations, (to growers) $1.00 to $200, per hundred,” and retail at, from 50 to 75 cents per doz. The question might arise whether there is a proper division of profits between the grower and merchant. As to houses that deal in flowers on Commis- sion, I know of no law to protect the consignor but the honesty of the consignee. ‘The statements of correspondents (only a portion of which are given) show the varieties of Carnations chicfly grown in this country. This establishes the kinds most in demand, and the kinds most profitable to grow ozly of the profusely introduced. sorts. To the scarcer varieties that are rapidly coming into popular favor this system of inquiry’ works great injustice. Many Carnation growers say in their letters: “We will grow extensively as soon as we can obtain the quantity of stock.” The Century, Grace Fardon, Dawn, Rosalind, American Wonder, Scarlet Gem, Robert Craig, Andalousie, Seawan, Sunrise, Buttercup, Field of Gold, Alegatiere, Quaker City, Mille Carle, John McCullough, Pres. Garfield, Jeannette, La Puritie, (white) Anna Webb, Chas. Henderson, Grace Wilder, Laura, Mrs. Joliff, Chester Pride, Rose Hill, Victor, Mrs. Garfield, Mrs. E. Hippard, Mrs. A. Rolker, Joseph Perkins, J. J. Harrison, ect., ect. Another lesson taught by this system of inquiry, which extended from the Atlantic to the OOD CARNATION CULTURE. Pacific, and from Maine to Lousiana, is the surpris- ‘ing narrow belt in the United States in which Carna- tions can be grown with the greatest success. , It is evident the Comeeen growing belt of America and Europelies between degrees 38 and 45, north latitude. Very few, if any of the genera of the once of caryophyllaceze are found south of the temperate rone. The home of the whole order seems to be in the North. Lychnis, Stellaria, Cerastium Vulgatum, &c., are found in Canada, Siberia and [aniedee The Botanical division of the life of the roots of plants into annuals, biennials and perennials, is greatly modified by cultivation and climate. Wheat is an annual if sowed in the Spring, it becomes a biennial if sown in the Fall. The Narsturtion is a perennial shrub in South America, in the North it is a distinctive annual. The tendency of all perennial plants of the tropics, when brought into a zone sharply marked by the seasons, or well defined periods of vest and- activity of vegetable life, is to assume biennial, or ‘annual habits. The Carnation is a well defined biennial. It is its nature for its roots to live two years, or poe’ one period of rest, or dormant existence, to erfect its seed, and f for its roots to die the second season. this as though a native of the ‘temperate zone, may have this nature greatly modified in its own natural clime. CARNATION CULTURE. 10K Artificial manipulation and green-house influences compels it to assume both annual and perennial habits. Many members of this order of plants, are perennials, even the parents of the Carnation race are perennials. The names of the originators of the improved varieties of Carnations, are el in the catalogue. This determines the locality in which sorts have had their origin. It is reasonable to suppose that a new kind of improved beauty of flower, or habit of a plant would only be obtained in a latitude, soil, and under circumstances most congenial to the nature of this plant. The new race of perpetual Carnations, Jene Sisley says, originated in Lyons, France. The most successful growers of Carnations, as well as the originators of new and improved kinds, must ever be confined to a very narrow strip of the earths surface. Soil, light, humidity and isothermal agencies wrthin2 this eueed belt will also be great factors of influences for, or agaznst this plant. This is strongly illustrated by W. C. Wilson’s letter, of Long Island, N.Y. Mr. Wilson has long been a practical and suc- cessful florist. After enumerating a long list of Carnations grown for the New York market, he says: 102 CARNATION CULTURE. “There are many other kinds grown. Some do well in one spot, while others do not. Our growers have to look for those sorts that do the best in their particular locality.” This condition of things must be referable chiefly to the soil. | No other influence could work this result in a section as limited as New York City and its suburbs. | It also may refer toa fact that some sorts of Carnations by their nature are adapted to certain sorts of soil. The soil of ong Island and vicinity sections, doubtless largely predominates in silex, and other loose ocean formed materials, and cannot geologic- ally, be generally a good Carnation growing section. There are two localities not more than twenty miles apart, at one point Carnations are raised with great success, at the other point their culture is almost a failure. At the the successful place the soil is a cold argillaceous nature at the other it is a loose warm sandy loam. The firm micaceous soil of eastern Pennyslva- nia has proven to be well adapted to growing Carna- tions successlully. Carnations do extremely well through Northern )hio, vshere the excessive heat of Summer is modi- fied by the chain of Lakes on the north, in localities where the soil predominates in enriched alumina. Does the fine web-like roots of the Carnation feed on the elements found in a clayey soil? or does CARNATION CULTURE. 103 the plant require the compactness this kind of soil gives around its roots? or is the cold nature of this soil congenial to its nature? Possibly it is all three of those factors combined that works the general good result. These are merely the first dottings on the map which will eventually clearly outline the Carnation growing sections of America. 104 TYPE CARNATION CULTURE. . OF A CRIMSON CARNATION. CHAPTER XX. Chapter XX, in the Ist and 2d editions, con- tained the correspondence from growers, showing the varieties of carnations cultivated in the United States in 1885. Its only value now would be to show the mutation in cultivated varieties that is constantly going on. SOLID BEDS. I append an abridged article from the pen of A. M. Herr, Pa., who is the pioneer representa- tive of the Solid Bed system for carnations. ‘“T have a plant of houses, that in their results has given great satisfaction. It consists of eight houses, each 9x100 feet on the ridge and furrow plan, the gutter plates rest upon the posts, but there is no partition between the houses, and the beds are on a level with the ground floor, and are of the natural soil without any labor spent on them except to manure them for planting, The houses run north and south, and the carnations are planted in beds three feet wide, and are heated with pipes supported by the posts on which rests the gutter plates, the span being so short no posts are needed to support the roof. Solid Beds are preferable for many varieties of carnations on the ground of economy, and _ the season’s results are better in both flowers and 106 CARNATION CULTURE. plants. The drainage of these beds, however, must be very thorough. Some kinds of carna- tions are better adapted to this mode of cul- ture than other kinds. Carnations disposed to burst their calyxes will do so more on solid beds than on raised benches, and carnations with the habit of producing side buds will turn out more short stem flowers on solid beds. The varieties I find best adapted to solid beds are Grace Wilder, Silver Spray, Henzie, Lizzie McGowen, Fred Dorner, Anna Webb, Mrs. Man- gold, J. ¥. Freeman, Portia Hector, Day Break and Christmas, and there are doubtless others I have not tried that would do equally well. J. J.- Harrison, L. L. Lamborn, E.G. Hill, Geneva Buttercup and Chester Pride do better on raised benches.” C. W. Warp, N. Y. ‘‘We like solid beds for some varieties, and raised benches for other kinds, Henzie, Portia, Chester Pride and Garfield do well with us in solid beds.” H.E. Currry, N. J. ‘‘I tried solid beds in three houses in 1886, the plants grew with extraordi- nary vigor, but produced but few flowers until after the holidays when they did some better. I have no desire to test solid beds again.” Wm. Nicuotson, Mass. ‘‘I grow over half of my stock in solid beds; benches do better in the winter, solid beds better in the spring and sum- mer months; by negligence in wader watering, benches suffer the most, while neglect in over watering beds suffer the most. All things consid- ering I see but little difference.” CARNATION CULTURE. 107 RR. T. Lomparp, Mass. ‘‘I grow carnations in solid beds and on raised benches, and I would discard raised benches entirely if my houses were constructed so I could. I get the best results from solid beds.” J. L. Dimon, Pa. ‘*We have used solid beds for carnations for years, planting the smaller grow- ing varieties, as Lamborn, Wilder and Swayne, on raised benches, and find that Henzie, Ed- wardsii, Mrs. F. Mangold and all strong growing kinds succeed well on solid beds. As to produc- tiveness of bloom we have not seen any difference. Solid beds or benches is all a matter of conven- ience and expense.” AuExX McBripgr, N. Y. ‘‘I think solid beds are better than raised benches for carnations, pro- vided they are well drained.” JosEPH REnarp, Pa. ‘‘My experience with solid beds and raised benches for carnations is this: during November, December, January, Feburary and March, raised benches are better in every particular; but before and after these months, solid beds are preferable; they retain moisture, do away with a great deal of work, and are more beneficial to the plants.” Many other experiences and opinions have been obtained from growers on this question, only the most pertinent have been introduced. Messrs Renard and Nicholson sum up the whole question, omitting giving prominence to the point; the grower’s crop of bloom is not as com- pletely under his control in solid beds, as it is in raised benches. The crop cannot be forced so / 108 CARNATION CULTURE. well,if it was desired to have it early, or at stated intervals. Supt. Porter, of the Census Bureau, says; there are in the United States 4691 floral estab- lishments embracing 388,823.347 feet of glass, equaling 891 acres of land. They give employ- ment to 16847 males and 1958 females and pay annually $1,160.152 for fuel. The value of their yearly output of plants amounts to $12,036.477, and the value of cut flowers they sell is $14,- 175.328. There was but one commercial florist in Amer- ica in 1800,—8 more by 1820,—8 more by 1830, — 25 more by 1840,—45 more by 1850,—96 more by 1860, and in 1890 a total of 4690. Within the carnation growing sections of America the excessive hot weather of July and August is very predjudicial to the growth of car- nations. A northern inclination of the carnation field would materially modify the bad etleee of the heat. Drar Str:—‘‘We would be pleased to know why carnation L. L. Lamborn will not open its buds with us. They but half open, then hang together and rot.” Webb Bros., Corfu, N. Y. All varieties are incipient species and have dis- tinctive habits of their own. The flower of the carnation in question is up to the maximum size, and of unequaled purity of color from the moment its petals unfold until they die. CARNATION CULTURE. IO0Q This carnation has defective strength of stem, and is on the annual side of the cultivated groupe of Biennial Carnations,as is Snowden, one of its parents. It should never be propagated until March or April for winter blooming. If it is propagated early, the plant being small,and are early bloomer, it becomes exhausted; so that by the time the short dark days of late winter set in, the flowers will not unfold to the feeble stim- ulus of the heat and light then offered. No variety has the terminal ends of the petals overlapping themselves as this has. From spray- ing, or condensation of greenhouse moisture, the outside petals decay and lock the inside ones in their adhesive embrace. Wm. Swayne, the originator ef this variety, says that he gets the best results from cuttings taken in March. The versatilities of this and all other ee I think, is fully explained by general principles in Chapter XXVIII. Mr. E. G. Hill, of Ind., from personal observa- tions in a recent tour of Europe, and the British Isles, says, ‘‘Go where you will, cloves, pinks and carnations are seen in fragrant profusion on every hand. The finer strains are classified as Bizarres,, Flakes, Fancies and Selfs; and sections or types as the Malmaison, Marguirete etc. The continuance and multiplication of choice va- rieties is universally done by layering the shoots in pots. The largest flowers produced by any va- riety of the Dianthus family is the by Malmai- I10 CARNATION CULTURE. son type. Mr. Hill heard of flowers that reached six inches in diameter. A March number of the ‘‘Florist’s Exchange” gave an electrotype impression of a Huropean variety measuring 43 inches in diameter. An es- teemed variety at Erfurt is the Germania; but neither it or the Marguirete class has been a great success in this country. The method of culture of these border varieties in Europe is tostart the seed under glass, and when two inches high transplant at proper dis- tances apart and give careful cultivation, where they bloom the second. season. These classes of the Dianthus family of plants are carefully crossed by hand fertilization, and when cultivated with the greatest care,marvelous - progress has been made in their development in the old country during the last few years. - The same disability seems to attend the impor- tation of these classes into this country that is at- tached to the perpetual carnations. America must raise her own Bizarres, Flakes and Fancies, and there is certainly an inviting and profitable field for effort in this direction. The last few years have seen but few originat- ions, or importations, of these types of carnations in America, and in those, the improvements have not been signally marked. Eastern Queen, Snow Flake, Morning Cloak, Hermine, Hispancus, Varabilis, Abottsford, Crimson Bell, La Favourite, Pheasant’s Eye, and a few others are all we can add to the list found on page Crary thax HARDY SCOTCH PINKS. ——DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM AND CARNATIONS. CAG i), @ OST Carnations are hardy above zero: / . Most pinks are hardy at any ordinary de- AXS\ AYA, gree below zero. Pinks have a more dwarfed growth than Carnations. They rarely attain a height greater than one foot, and grow in large tufts from a foot to eighteen inches in diameter. The foliage of Pinks is more profuse, the leaves narrower, and more grasslike than is found in Car- nations. Their ordinary time of blooming is different from the Carnation. June is their usual flowering time. The beautiful lacings, shadings and bandings of Pinks are different from the markings seen in Carnations. The markings in Pinks are usually transverse on the petals, while in Carnations they are parallel with the axis of the petals. The petals of Pinks are deeper and more generally fringed, and the fragrance of the flower is more powerful than is found in Carnations. These and other general differences between these two classes cf plants are far from being in- variable. ri2 CARNATION CULTURE. The mentioned characteristics of the two classes shade down to nothing on the confines of a close relationship. They run into each other by _insensible gradations, | Pinks are the parents of Carnations. Some valuable Carnations recently introduced have many of the traits of their parents, as Quaker City, etc. The Carnation that may be introduced in the future, and the ones that will come to stay, will be those that contain most of the pure, rich, distinctive blood of their parents. Nature abhorsahybrid as it does a vacuum, and decrees againstthem diseases and extinction. Nature’s most perfect mechanism is a flowez, and she revolts at an zmperfect one. A Carnation that hasto rupture the ca to unfold its petals is a monstrosity. Good taste will soon consign the unnatural product to the compost pile. The dwarf habits, profusion of bloom, on short stems, and the entirely hardy nature of pinks, make them valuable fer summer boquets, for the green- house, window garden, and especially for cemetery decoration. In some sections they are used and esteemed, as a border for a bed, containing other plants. The attention of Florists, and lovers of flowers, has been indifferently directed to Pinks. The new and vastly improved kinds now being introduced, will likely make this different 1 in the near future. CARNATION. CULTURE. 113 : It is now.a.question, .if some members of the Pink family will not compare favorably, with soe of their more aristocratic Carnation cousins for forcing purposes. Pinks can be propagated by cuttings, layers, or division of the clumps of roots. It should be by cuttings, if they are designed for pots, or sale. The clumps should be divided and re-set every two years. There is no difference in the treatment of the cuttings from that recommended for Carnations. D. Barbatus, (Syn. Sweet William &c.) D. Plumarius, (Syn. Garden Pink, Florists Pink, Bunch Pink, Cushion Pink, Phesant-eye Pink D. Hortensius.) D. Chinesius, (Syn. China Pink) D. Diadema- tus, D. Lancinatus and D. Headewigiti, are sports of this variety. This sort sports to BUCH an extent that in a large ‘bed of seedlings it is hard to find two alike. D. Caryophyllus, (Syn. Carnation, Clove Pink, Clove Gilly Flower.) This variety is belived to be pirent of the Tree, or ever bloomiig Carnation. These kind are easily propagated by seed. The defer kinds must be perpetuated by cuttings or division of the roots. The terms Hardy Pinks, Sweet May Pinks, Scotch Pinks, Picotees, Hybrid Perpetual Pinks, are applied indiscriminately to the improved progeny of the above kinds, not including the Carnation proper. 114 CARNATION CULTURE. These have distinctive differences, which are particularized in Chapter V. and are the Eden parents of all our Pinks, as well as Carnations. Our list embraces the kinds having the best habits, and the widest range of colors. Mr. Chas. T. Starr, who has given much _ atten- tion to this class of plants, writes me as follows: “Scotch Pinks flower like perpetual Roses, but one real crop a year, but stand out well in this lati- tude (the Alba Fimbriata, or r White Fringe,) without any protection. The others are better with a slight covering of brush and leaves. Some varieties, such as Esther, Brunette, Juliet, and Alfred Harrington bloom in the late summer, or fall. Commencing with small plants, set out in wel a foot apart each way, giving ordinary garden culture same as beets, or onions, kept well hoed and soil mellow. They soon form large clumps, or stools six inches or more in diameter by the first of November following. I leave them out in the open ground to this date, or until the ground is slightly frozen. as I find I can do but little propagating (to have healthy plants) without this freezing, before taking off the cuttings. I then remove them and set close together in a cold frame, or a bed on the ground in a southern exposure, covered by a frame of 6x3 foot giass; here they remain until January, at which time 1 cut up what I want for propagation, putting them in the cutting bench the same.as Carnations; grow them in CAXNATION CULTURE. ris two and a half inch pots all summer, and in October following, put them out in cold frames, or keep dormant for mailing the following spring; such plants will bloom that spring and can be mailed any distance with perfect safety. For amateur flowering, grow them into| clumps ee petare - stated, “take,them . up’. in) October; plant into beds where wanted to bloom, say eivht inches apart, set a cold-frame over them, or protect with brush and litter, or ever-green boughs, which should be removed early in the spring. They will repay youin May and June with a mass of clove scented beautiful blooms, such as can not be obtained on any other flowering plant. The new variety “Szow,” is pure white and as large and double as any Carnation, and bloomed very profusely for me last spring, florits 2% inches in diameter. It 1s a great addition to the white flowering variety, though it bursts badly. ard Lyons is ie finest red or dark one, and Pumila next. Laura Wilmore, Alfred Harrington and Brunette, are the best, of the variegated, or dark centered varieties. They are all worthy of a place in every flower garden, being so hardy; and would be much more generally grown, especially at the north, if their treatment was more generally understood. They can be winter flowered the same as Sweet Violets, but will do but little good in a warm dry atniosphere such as is too often found in gree:n-houses and living rooms, Which is the bane of successfully flowering the whole Dianthus family. 116 CARNATION CULTURE. Forty to sixty-five degrees, octasionally higher’ in day time, with a moist RY tas will insure their successful cultivation.” SCOR I append a catalogue cf the best named varie- ties of Pinks now in cultivation. ——CALALOGUL OF FINKS:——— Anne Boleyr, dark rose, crimson maroon center, forces well. Alfred Harrington. Atola, violet rosé, crimson center. | Alba Fimbriata, white, fringed, a good winter bloomer. Betrace, pure white, early, forces well. Brunette. | Claude. Cerus, rosy violet. Dianthus Hybridus Multiflorus, foliage of pink, flowers like a Carnation. | Dianthus Querteri, large crimson flowers, con- tinuous summer bloomer. oe Defance. Etna. Psion Earl of Carlisle. Grenadin, scarlet, like a dwart Carnation. Imogen, | pale straw color, crimson margin: shia. Juliet, white ground, flaked red:and: pinkweresil CARNATION CULTURE. 1T7 Jules Ferry, white, wine purple center. Jean Sisléy,. laree, rose, shaded crimson, very fragrant. Laura Wilmore. Lord Lyons, crimson, laced with rose. Minerva, blush, with amaranth center. Mrs. Stephens. Mrs. Potiphar. Napoleon III, rich crimson, profuse bloomer. Oracle, white, crimson cenrer. Prince Arthur. Pumila. Stanislaus, violet rose, deep crimson center. Snow, (Syn: Mrs. Sinkins,) flowers large, best white, blooms at Easter. | Viola, bright lemon, pink and red margin. Valentine, opaque white, bright pink stripes. 11S CARNATION CULTURE. /; if it MD rr Type of the Flowers of Scotch Pinks. No. 1 — Lord Lyons. No, 4 — Alfred Harrington. 92 - Brunette. “ 5 — Alba Fimbriata. “23 — Puniila, “ 6 — Prince Arthur. CHAPTER XXII. TOMATOES IN CONNECTION WITH BENCH CARNATIONS. BY WM. SWAYNE, KENNETT, SQUARE, Pa.” Ns practiced the following plan of growing 4. lomatoes, as a succession crop with Carnations for the past two seasons and found it to pay well; in no way as I can see, interfering with the growth of the Carnations, but, to the contrary, if not planted too closely, a decided advantage to them in the hot summer months We commence operations by sowing the seed from December first to tenth. There is nothing gained by sowing sooner, as plants would become too large, interfering with Carnation plants before the time when that ‘shading is really needed. We pick out in shallow trays when second leaf appears, avoiding crowding in every instance. When they have become sood stocky plants and growing freely, pot in three inch pots, shift as often as needed until a six inch pot is reached; these to economize space are set on south side of benches, where they get plenty of light, in houses where they are to grow, until they are well filled with roots; never allow them to become too much pot bound. When this stage is reached, (about February first,) they are placed where they are to fruit. 120 CARNATION CULTURE. = Our plan is to lift two or three Carnation plants every four feet on zorth side of bench as much as practicable, thus the Carnations get the advantage of all the sun needed until the Tomatoes are well erown, by which time hot weather reaches us and the shade given'by the Tomatoes is really a positive adv antage oo the blooming Carnation plants. ‘The depth of soil on our benches 1s from five to six inches, and we make no difference in treat- ment of Tomatoes than for Carnations; in fact we take the best possible care of Carnations, and allow the Tomatoes to take care of themselves. © They do best in a good, rich, somew hat sandy soil; one house we grow Peter Henderson Carnation “which requires a heavier soil. In it I find the fruit a trifle later in maturing and not quite so smooth and fair, but heavy. The most important part in growing Tomatoes successfully, is the pruning of the vines; this we commence as soon as the first blossom bud appears, or as soon as the leading shoot above the blossom can be got at to pinch out, leaving one leaf only above the blossom. The next shoot that comes out below the bunch of buds is allowed to grow until it develops bads, when it too is pruned, exactly as the first, and so on until three or four sets of fruit branches are produced, or less if they get too tall for the houses, keeping off all suckers and side shoots. CARNATION CULTURE. 121 After we get as much fruit set as -we think will mature before out door fruit ripens and the leaves commence to throw out suckers, which they will do, I have found it advantageous to cut away some of the lower, riper leaves and keep all leading shoots off, thus throwing all the strength of the vine into the fruit. 7 Vines on the north bench are set about twelve inches from the back which are tied to strong stakes. When they reach the glass, are trained up the rafters by suspending wires, after the form of vines in cold graperies, until the required height is attained. When middle benches are wide, say six feet, two rows can be planted; each row about ten inches from the sides; these I prefer to stake with long stakes reaching to the rafters and secured either by wire running along and fastened with little staples, or else by a small one to the rafter for each pole and securely tied so as not to have them falling around when full of fruit. The plants should never be set closer than three and one-half feet; four feet is better; after they have been pinched off at the second blossom, two or three of the lower leaves can be taken off, which will let more air around the Carnation plants. Carnations continue to flower well up into July, grown with tomatoes, two or three weeks later than on benches where no tomatoes are grown. Tomatoes grown in a house have to be fertil- ized artificially, which should be regularly done at east.every other day. 122 CARNATION CULTURE. I use a small camel hair brush at first, and after they get to producing buds freely, merely go over and give the blossom stalks a little jar with a small stick or with the hand; this distributes the pollen sufficiently to do the work. | The Tomato is a perfect blossom itself, but in a house there is no wind to shake the vines enough to produce the effect of fertilizing. Do not depend on the bees to do the work, during warm days in early summer. I have seen hun- dreds of bees amoung the other flowers, but have the first one yet to see on a tomato blossom. The fruit with us commenees to ripen the latter part of April and continues until tomatoes come in from out doors. Plants for the year 1885, averaged eleven pounds per vine, average price for season 1778 cents per pound; fruit was sent in the hands of a commis- sion man going to market twice a week. No doubt if jt had been sent direct to some fancy fruit dealer, they would have done much better. The variety used was the “Mayflower, a medium sized fruit, very productive and nearly always perfect, and do not seem to run so much to vine as many other varieties. Some growers near me use Trophy and other varieties but I think the Mayflower surpasses them all for productiveness, and a medium size tomato seems to sell better than the very large ones. While no doubt tomatoes would do much better with a night temperature of 65 degrees, and would CARNATION CULTURE, 123 produce fruit earlier, &c., yet we find they grow well at fifty degrees and take a place as a second crop, which goes a good way toward keeping down expenses. Thus I am satished in my own mind that they are not only a profitable crop to grow themselves, but you can grow Carnations longer by growing them together. There are some rules, however, that must be closely followed to insure success. In houses running North and South the princi- ple of setting is immaterial. First, Not to sow seed before dates mention- ed above. Second, Never for once neglect in any way to fertilize at least every other day. Third, Prune promptly, and never allow suckers to grow. Plants left to themselves would soon overrun every thing, for they grow more luxu- riantly in a green-house than out doors. Fourth, Stake at once as soon as planted. and remember in pruning never to leave more than three or four sets of blossoms, and give air as you would Carnations if the tomatoes were not there. * I have had no experience raising Tomatoes in connection with bench Carnations. I visited Mr. Swayne’s houses in June, 1886, and the condition, and appearance of both Tomatoes and Carnations, seemed to fully justify all the statements made in this plainly written chapter. 124 CARNATION CULTURE. I am so confident of Tomatoes being a practical and profitable addition to Carnation growing, that I design to generally grow them this season on the Carnation benches. : This chapter is strictly german to the subject matter of this treatise, and so far as I know, Mr. Swayne's article is the first that has been published on this subject. (£d.) | A) y (es i 3 | CARNATION CULTURE. WS SS \ SG QQ ay i an H v uy TN Shi (! } Wyre, AQ SARIS ai \ \ ; X i i \ \ \ N a 0) i Y y dh Uff 2 WN 1 2 TIS Yi PW SS A) Yi f WY nit LP) <@ HE following Catalogue of Carnations is arranged alphabetically, and embraces all the varieties of merit of European and American origin. The “classes” are separated with as much accu- racy as it has been possible for me to obtain. In each of these seven classes.there are three natural divisions: viz: the “Old,” “Scarce” “ang “New Sorts. The “Old Class” are those which are profusely introduced, and many of them are the kinds now chiefly and generally cultivated. These are designated with the letter “O.” The Scarce class have been before the public for two or three years, but as a rule, not yet suffici- ent in quantity to be grown extensively for cut flowers. It requires trom six to eight years to generally and profusely introduce anew Carnation, so that it can go on the benches by the tens of thousands. This class is marked with a letter “5S.” A few of the ‘““New’” class were offered in 1886, and others will be in 1887, and some not till the spring of 1888. CARNATION CULTURE. 127 This list embraces nearly thirty varieties. I have had the pleasure of seeing some of these plants and many of the Flowers. ‘They are of promising merit and a few of them extraordinarily so. This class is marked with the letter ‘“N.” If Jean Sisley is correct, the history of the ever-blooming section of ‘Carnations does not reach back over thirty years. _Even this brief period of time has sadly obscured the origin of the first introduced varieties. The first kinds of merit, as winter bloomers that have at all maintained themselves, were probably introduced about 1868. They were La Puritie, Pres. DeGraw and Ed- wardsil. Some of my correspondents have been quite firm in the opinion that they were introduced from Europe. The weight of the testimony is that they are to the manor born. Astoria is doubtless the first yellow variegated kind of merit. It is not material about dates of introduction, only as a matter of accurate and interesting history. The electrotype on page 125, was ordered executed by Chas. T. Starr, fourteen years ago. It represents the natural size at that time, the two La Purities and Edwardsii. This old electrotype is interesting, as showing the possibility of improvement in the size of the flowers in existing kinds. 128 CARNATION CULTURE. Edwardsii has been long and. continuously grown in America, in widely different localities, and under very diverse management, _ These circumstances may have worked locale Some change in the habit of the plant, and character of the flower. This doubtless is the reason of its many aliases as seen in the catalogue. Edwardsii is still a variety of some merit. | Thos. Seal, a veteran grower for the Philadel- phia market, says: It is his first choice of all the whites for winter bloom. Another Florist nnder the name of Peerless, says: It is the best white summer bloomer. None of its various synonyms, even if they had a different origin, show essential difference in fact. The four old kinds mentioned are certainly the parents, or grand parents of most all the American varieties now in cultivation. They are all still cultivated to some extent and — in a few instances preferred to all others. Waiving the question of a decadence of vigor, it is the general opinion, the introduction of superior kinds is fast relegating them to the rear. The description -of kinds in the catalogue is very brief. Strong adjectives and all the rhetoric of the catalogues 1 is purposely avoided. The novice in Carnation growing is doubtless bewildered at the relative prices of Carnation plants, as found in catalogues. CARNATION CULTURE. 129 The known standard kinds are quoted the lowest. The scarce, new, and possibly less worthy kinds are quoted the highest. The solution is, there is an ample stock on hand of the standard sorts to propagate from. Florists as a rule buy new varieties sparingly, because they are high priced, and often prove unmeritorious. The Carnation plant is peculiar in that it seems to revolt at man’s dictatorship over a compar- ison of the relative merits of the family. The varieties one person succeeds with, another person will fail with. It bounds a man’s knowledge of its individual worth with the modest, unassuming words ‘“‘wzder my management.” This may be explained to an extent, on the grounds ot short and imperfect trial tests. Experience proves that a Carnation should not be condemned on a short trial. Some of the new and most promising kinds speedily fail to justify expectations, while several of the most valued kinds, new grown, were cultivated for years before they vindicated their just merits. What constitutes ong and short stem Carna- tion flowers is very indefinite. All the flowers can be cut with long stems at the sacrifice of a large number of unopened buds. Many varieties have their buds in a close clus- ter, and full blown flowers can not be plucked with long stems, wituout sacrificing the whole cluster. 13CG - CARNATION CULTURE. Other kinds bear their flowers on a peduncle, or flower stem, varying from oe to szx inches long. These can be cut with a stem without destroy- ing other buds, or at least so many other buds. There are but few kinds but what there is some loss of buds, if cut with long stems. The average increased price for long stem flowers is about double that for short stems. This augmented value is supposed to be com- pensation for the trouble of stemming, and loss of undeveloped buds. There are a few in the catalogue, (in my opin- ion) comparatively worthless; a few have not desirable colors; a few are so shy of their bloom as to be unprofitable; a few burst so badly that the petals hany down the flower stalk, while the rest are imprisoned in the calyx. Even these have their friends, and I could not expunge them. from a general list. As a matter of merited recognition I have given the names in small caps, in the list, of the person with whom the varieties originated. On this point in some cases there have been conflicting opinions of correspondents. And in some other cases it might be a matter of speculation as to who 1s entitled to the merit, the man (or bee) that cross-fertilized the seed, or the man that bought the seed and grew the plant. The old question which is the mother, the hen that /azd the egg, or the hen that atched the chick? 55’ Carnation flowers in California are prized very highly. CARNATION CULTURE. bet It is the nature of the plant in that climate to put on perennial habits. To maintain their usual profusion of bloom, new plants must be started every year. Dianthus Hybridus Multifioris, and Dianthus Querteri. listed in the Scotch Pink catalogue, ate of German origin. J have been unable to ascertain their parentage, but they are very dissimilar in habits to the rest of the list. They will not bear indoor treatment. Much complaint is made by Carnation growers about damage done Carnations on benches by rats and mice. man enecive remedy as to: rear a Cat inthe Carnation houses. Those who grow Carnations for cut-flowers should not overdo the matter by filling their house, or houses with a great number of varieties. Get the dest adapted to the locality, and keep the range of selections within the proper limits. A few standard kinds are much better than many, for market purposes. Leave a large list of varieties to those who propagate for the general flant market, which is another branch of the business I have labored assiduously to gather all the information possible on the history of the Carnation plant. I believe the increasing demand for this flower will make such knowledge vitally interesting in the future. 132 CARNATION CULTURE. Whatever my success has been in this regard, it will be garnered data subject to verification and use by future writers. I have had nothing of this kind to assist me. I am satisfied, with the assistance of friends, to have rescued from oblivion as much as I have, relative to this important plant. CATALOGUE OF THE WHITE CLASS OF CARNATIONS. HaAwWwWardsti. (s.avwarns.) [0] (Syn. Boule : de Weige,. Louis. Zeiller, Peerless; Awa- lanche, Snow Ball, White Pertection, Snow White.) Vigorous habits, perfect flower, fair winter and summer bloomer. Misher’s Harly White. (risuer.) — [S.] Healthy habit, early, flower perfect, large and fringed. Henzte’s Wh EGC. (HENZIE.) [0.] Fine tall grower, matured flower very large and white, rather late. John RR. Muardock. (ors) [3] Extra habit, large flower, good bloomer. Jeannette. (rmonrs.) [8] Strong grower, free bloomer, firm petals, seedling of Peter Henderson. La EAE IPLELE, (CARLE FRANCE.) [N.] Healthy branch- ing habit, long stems, very free early bloomer. Va. Ti. Lamborn. (swaynz.) [N-] Plant dwarf, early free continuous bloomer, long stems, does not burst, parents Henderson and Snowden. 134 CARNATION CULTURE. Lady Maude. (ewsrss) [8] Good grow- er, large flowers. Mille Cue? le, (CARLE, FRANCE. ) [N. ] Healthy branching, average size, habit free, early, very symmetrical flower. Mary Ande; PSOT?. (simmons.) [S| Stand- ard size grower, very large flowers. Pres. Deg PONY (ZEILLER. ) [0.] (Syn. Flat | Bush) Habits dwarf, stem weak, average size flower, early, fringed, one of the oldest. Peter flenderscir. (cHaRLTON.) [0.] Vigor- ous healthy grower, medium, early, shell- like petals, flowers large, do not burst, standard sort, likes stiff soil. Queen Og. Whites. (exciisn orietn.) [0] Standard size plant, average merit as a winter bloomer. Quaker CECH, (BANY ARD.) [S.] Very dwarf and compact habit, extra free bloomer, but . late in February and March. Secreta fel 8 fFfune, (siumons.) [S8.] Compact habit, free bloomer, large flower. Snow Ball. — (exsrmyex.) [0] Average grow- er and bloomer, seedling of Degraw and much like it. Snowden. (uexvresox.) [0.] Dwarf branching grower, very early, extra free bloomer, average size flower, good calyx support. Sea Foarre. @suo0c)'[s} ' Medium Sizegraw, er, large flowers, double, fine texture, and fragrant. CARNATION CULTURE. 135 D/LOW - Bound. (conrap.) . [N.] Dwarf grower, free early bloomer. William “wayne... (swarse) [NX] Parents Snowden and Henderson, plant a_ healthy standard grower, early and _ perpetual bloomer, long stems, perfect calyx support, flowers large and very double. ——— - —-—_ > 4 ——_ —- CATALOGUE OF THE SCARLET CLASS OF CARNATIONS. Alegattere. (ALEGATIERE, FRANCE.) [N.] Dwarf and very healthy habit, large flowers on long stems, perpetual bloomer, fine shade of scarlet: acres of this sort raised for the Paris market. Be A I LLEOTE: (siuwoxs.) — [S.] Healthy branching grower, continuous but not a free bloomer, very large flowers, vermilion scarlet. Brilliant. {oj Bright scarlet, fragrant, fair crower. Defiance. {0.3 Scarlet Carnation, esteemed for outdoor flowering. Hdmons. {,0) Healthy, bright scarlet, quite fragrant. 136 CARNATION CULTURE. Hoore2nce Mistlve: (FISHER. ) [N.] Good healthy grower, scarlet salmon, fragrant. Mire Brand. — (ew) [oj . Gross healthy grower, moderate bloomer, deep red. Creiiirntlet. (8.] Strong grower, abundant bloomer, light shade carmine. Crenadtine. — (xcrors.) [s.] Intense scarlet. Flay fi, PATE (PALMER. ) [N ] Large, good grower, shell-shaped petals, fine scar- let. . John MeCu llovigh , (SIMMONS. ) [S.] Good crower, large flowers, brilliant scarlet. Soames 5 ee Mi wrklana. (THORPE. ) [S.] Flow- er very large, perfect shape, deeply fringed, moderately free bloomer, brilliant scarlet. Lady Fmima sre) [0] Dwarf, compact habit, flowers profusely, good scarlet. ad. P iPitle, (7ecL. ) (zEILLER.) = [0.] Healthy, medium size grower, very free bloomer, one of the first sorts introduced. Loge (ga (Grauam.) — [N.] Good grower, flowers large, light red. TOLL, (THoRPE.) [O.] (in: Frege Johnson.) Vigorous constitution, flowers medium size, freely produced, intense bright scarlet. (Pp 7S. Goa ] fT eld. (BRETMYRE ) [O.]. Strong compact grower, quite free, perfect flower, one of the best for pots, English vermillion. CARNATION CULTURE. 137 Philadelphia. (kicHNor.) [S.] (Syn. Metior.) Tall straight grower, branching style, very tree, bright scarlet. eLOveErt OTOL. (mc cattam.) [S.] Very neat branching, healthy grower, profuse bloom- er. fine shade of scarlet. Seacaucus. (HUDSON, Co., N. ¥.) [0.] A light shade of carmine. Scarlet Gern. (crauau.) [0] Dwarf vigorous habit, free flowering, rich dazzling scarlet. Secretary WVEFECLOTTL. (stumons.) =‘ [S.] Free grower, constant bloomer, brilliant scarlet. mie. Cencary. (srarr.) [S.] | Remarkable healthy grower, medium height, full double, rich fragrance, glowing carmine, suffused with a magenta shading. Whittier. (simmons.) [S.J Bright vermillion scarlet. buds of great size, liable to burst. Waverly. (scor.) [0] Large bright red. MEE OTL: (starr.) [0.] Large bright red. CRIMSON CLASS OF CARNATIONS. Anna Webb. — (visuer.) [N.] Medium _ size, branching habit, very free, perpetual bloomer. Bonny Doon. (HENDERSON.) [0.] Bright magenta. 138 CARNATION CULTURE. Black LLTELOPEC, (THORPE.) [0.] Standard size plant, long stems, fragrant, deep crimson. Bryant. (smmoxs.) [s] Free bloomer, soft lake, with dark stripes. Baltte. [01 Dark maroon. Hrussels. — (srarmn) [8] Strong bushy style, very double, free, cherry red with broad stripes of maroon. tor Hisher. . (risuer.) [N.] Very large, dark crimson. Crimson Lirreg. (wire) [0.] Robust, stand- ard height, free, deep crimson. Col Wilder. THORPE.) [S. Fine: habit) {free ( Gime perfect shape, large, vivid red, flaked with black. Cardinal, (isuzr) [8] Strong tall habit, flow- ers very large, deep maroon with spots of white. Darkness. (o) Crimson maroon. Ey. G. F1IUll. (enones.) [8.] Fine shade of scarlet, and style extra, early and free, long stems. Fileta Fay Foster. (ovr) (xj Medium branchy, healthy, perpetual, free, never bursts, magenta suffused with violet. Ferdinand Mangold. (msoxs. [8] Free, continuous, long stems, very large, dark red shaded with maroon. Henrietta. (ox @ Bark. tee. CARNATION CULTURE, poe es tlugh Gra fe: CETL: (GRAHAM.) [N.] Good srtow- ‘er, flowers large, dark scarlet. Aaizer William. | (coms) [8] Violet pur ple, magenta shadings. rite. js, Dark flesh color, fragrant. mer oOy Cite CPLiUTUSOTLS, (waa) (o-} © Dark rich shade of crimson, produced in_ profu- sion. hLouts Lerotr, (exuie) [s] Dark maroon, Lowell. (inoxs.) [8] Rich deep purple, crim- son shaded with violet, very large. Miranda. (rors) [Ss] Strong grower, free bloomer, rich plum color. Mrs. Keene. (VETCH, ENGLAND.) [N.] Very large flowers, shy bloomer. Orient. (risuxe.) [N.] Crimson. Othello. [s] Good habit, free bloomer, crimson. Purple Crown. 0) Maroon shaded purple. SCAW AIM. (serrevs.) [8] Dwarf, compact, ‘healthy, fine habit, good calyx support, deep crimson, fine for pots. Secretary Airkwood. (simnoxs) [S.] Large, ~ form good, deep brilliant crimson. Topsy. (srarz.) [8] Deep velvet maroon, petals like shells. | Vesuvius. (HENDERSON) [0.] (Syn. Starr.) Large flowers, dark crimson. 140 CARNATION CULTURE. Wiitpper-Ln. (vercH, ENGLAND.) [N.] Large flow- ers, scarlet and black. W. W. Coles. (rnonen.) [x] Long stems, free bloomer, very early, light scarlet, good habit. -— wt PINK CLASS OF CARNATIONS. Mmerican Wonder. (aera) (3) ae bushy growth, strong long flower stems, large perfect flowers, freely produced, Albany. [oj Carmine pink. Beauty. (1) [0 Rose mottled with carmine and red. Chas, Hendersori. (mone) [8] Free grow er, large flowers, light carmine rose. Chas. Stirrimer. (wc) [0] (Syn.-Bocks Seedling.) Rank habit, large, flowers finely fringed, fragrant, bright pink. Daw ?n. (srazr,) [8] Dwarf, early and’ profuse: deep rose centre shaded with white. Rawr. [w} Delicate pink. Florence Bevis. (cram) [x] Good grow- er, large, flowers fringed, light pink. Grace Hardor. smnoxs) [8] Vigorous grower, average size flower, tree bloomer, pure rich pink. CARNATION CULTURE. T41 Grace Wilder. (rauex) [8] Good stand- ard grower, ordinarily free, fine rose pink. James Perkins.’ (sys) [8] Quite free habit, good size flowers, unusually fragrant, continuous bloomer, pure soft rose. Longfellow. (simsoss) [s.] Healthy and free bloomer, flowers large, soft salmon rose. LAL: (wENDERSON.) [S.] Light pink. Lady Chatttr: (sree) [8] Parents La Puritie and Astoria, rosy carmine, striped and flaked with crimson and maroon. LAWUPQA. (VETCH, ENGLAND.) [N.] Light salmon, Very large and free. we FAV OF, (LA CONDIE, FRANCE.) [N.] ra VECy, free variety, hard to propagate. Mrs. A Beolices:. (rHorPE.) [S] Fair grower, pale flesh tint, deeply fringed. Mrs. Mangold. (uorrs) [s] Fine free habit, large flowers, soft salmon. ITs. Garyield. (prermyre.) [S.] Broad foliage, very robust, rich shade of Chinese pink. May Queen. (rHoRPE.) [S. ] ‘Fall grower, large flowers, broad petals, deep pink. : Mrs. McKeen Ze. (axvrrsox. [8] Rose color, finely fringed. Mad. Chassons. (ALEGATIERE, FRANCE.) [S.] Deep FOSE. Mrs. Soluff. (GEO. JOLIFF, ENGLAND.) [0O.] Standard size plant, early, fair size flower, delicate flesh tint. MA? CARNATION CULTURE. Petunta. (rnorrz.) [8] Large flower, rich laven- der rose, mottled with white, deeply fringed. Princess LOUtSe, (rsusy.) [0.] Rose pink, flow, ers extra large. f2ose PIGAL. (BALLENDOZ. [S.] (Syn. Rosedale.) Dwarf habit, very profuse bloomer, a shade darker than Grace Wilder. ROSY AMforn. (HENDERSON.) [S.] Salmon pink. Rosalind. (tHORPE.) [S.] An extra tall habit, long stems, quite free, a lively shade of pink. iS hr ell flow er. (HENDERSON. ) [0.] A beautiful shade of delicate rose. Star of the West. {0} Deep pink. Springfield. (wwe) [0] Light pink striped, | fine grower and bloomer. VTCEOr. (pace.) [N.] (Syn. Page's Seedling.) Average size, very free. YELLOW CLASS OF CARNATIONS. Anaaloasie. (EUROPE. ) [N.] Large flowers, freely produced, upright branching habit, sulphur yellow, deeply fringed, fragrant, medium early. | Bell Fialiadwn y: (EUROPE. ) [s.] Quite late in blooming. CARNATION CULTURE. 143 Bield of Gold. ersee) [s Parents Astoria and Edwardsii, small good yellow flower, quite late, Feb. and March. Pride of Penshurst, (scrorz.) [NJ] Stocky habit, late, a variety of great expectations. Yellow Queer. (xvrorz,) [s.] Late bloomer. — SE EEE Yellow-Variegated Class of Carnations. A.stOrla. (wiuises.) [0] Good grower, yellow striped carmine; this is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, yellow-variegated Carna- tions in America, and is one of the parents of some of the finest kinds. Astoria Lertine. {oj Fair grower, orange yellow, mottled crimson. Amertcan Mlortst. (srare.) [N.] Very healthy grower, medium height, profuse bloomer, long stems, flowers large and full, yellow flaked carmine. Buttercup. (rare) [8] Robust grower, free bloomer, medium size plant, long stems, parents—Astoria and La Puritie, pencled deep lemon yellow, sparingly carmine. Columbia. (cnorez.)[N.) Healthy, long stems, perfect calyx support, early, rosy salmon, dashed bright scarlet, fringed and robust. 144 CARNATION CULTURE. Dolly Varderr. (xversos. [0.1 Vigorous habit, free bloomer, buff striped crimson and maroon. De Fontana, {oj Orange striped crimson. Duke of Orange. srarx) [o.] Fair habit, late bloomer, productive, striped orange, edged carmine, Parents—Astoria and Edwardsii. Hrrersore. (simmons.) [S.J Salmon, striped Ver million. Harragut. {sg} Carmine and yellow neatly laced, edged purple and maroon. FPQTtCY. (eran) [8] Fine habit, scarlet shaded yellow, striped with crimson. Glory of Verice. [oj Orange and rose. ¥da May.” (conme.)[s] Excellent habije@aes creamy yellow, marble.and splashed with carmine and pink. James B. Kidd. (mvs. [sj] | Branching nature, flowers large, cream colored, mark- ed purple, vermillion. JSearr Sisley. (ALFGATIERE, FRANCE.) [N. ] Vigorous, fine habit, large flowers buff, ground with scarlet stripes. James Madison. [0] Yellow striped, carmine. Litttle Beauty. (starr.) [8.] Rich yellow, dotted and edged with rose. CARNATION CULTURE. 146 iyata. sranr.) [0] Tall grower, flowers very large and double, with intense clove fra- grance, orange yellow. Mons. Gambetta. (ZEILLER.) = [0.] Fair grow- er, orange, and yellow variegated, Mrs. 7G. Hippar ‘Cd. (THORPE.) [S.] Dwarf habit, free, medium size flower, perfect shape, orange shaded and penciled with crimson. £0. sinvexs.) [8] Cream specked with purple. Le. ee Far aE cy gue (STARR,) is Dwarf co} mpact habit, free. large double, peach-blow flaked with carmine. Secretar Yy Lincoln. (sinons.) IS. Solferi- no, shaded purple and violet, large, flaked with crimson. , Oun-L2Use. (kicunor.) [g.] Good habit, free, long ' stems, orange. Sun-Set. (nrpparn.) [N.] Yellow and scarlet, fringed, strong habit, flowers very large. SeMSACLOTL. (ruorrs.) [8.1 Perfect form, crimson yellow, pink and white. Venus. (srax:) [8] Light canary yellow, slight stripes of carmine, parents—Astoria and Edwardsil. _ White-Variegated Class of Carnations. American Banner, x} Striped - with carmine and white, white ground, edged and spotted with crimson, i 46 CARNATION CULTURE. sivondale, crane) [8] Free, white, edged with purpie and maroon. ie oe iat EZ pAerce, (siMons.) [S.J] Free, branch- ; ing habit, dwarf, healthy grower, pure white, and crimson-variegated. Be ward Taylor. (srs) [8] Large, white and crimson-variegated. Clara Morr 2S: (siuMoxs.) [S.] Model flower, pure white, edge petals margined crimson. Chester Pride: >. wwaws)- [oy ~ Never bursts, winter bloomer, free, white penciled rosy carmine. Calico. (srarr) [8] Creamy white, terra-cotta and crimson, edged white. ‘Mareka, eran) [s. Dwarf, white, edged and striped Oank Beane Fairy Prt':cess.. (enous) [s] Large, 1 ure white, ae with purple and crimson. Fasctnation. {0} Large. full, pure white; blotch with rosy scarlet. Geo. Washington. (zeuLer.) [0.] White ground, dotted cherry red. ‘Hinsda. Ze. (auen.) [0.1 (Syn. Allen’s Degraw.) 2 ~ White, striped with pink. Holmes. (amxoss) {s] Free, pertect Gwe pure white, sprinkled with rose. J.T Harrison. Gomes) -8)- Cee of Perfection.) Vigorous, jhealthy habit, flower fair size, free, does not burst, \fra- grant, long stems, satin white, marked shaded pink. CARNATION “CULTURE, 147 La fix cellent. (ait) fo} Pure white, car- mine edge. kien. _ (srare,) [0.] Vigorous grower, small flower, white, striped deep crimson. | La ot 1rP EEL Y Cbs (ITENDER sox) [O ] Healthy, 7 free, a sport of La Puritie [red.] “urs. Hz. CV DA DRC/S: ~ (siuaons.) [S.] Unhealthy, white, slightly variegated with purple crimson. | ‘Maude. (srarn.) [8] Strong grower, white with slight penciling of carmine. Margery. [0.] Strong standard grower, white, striped with vermillion. Mary Darce. {o; White, tinged.with pink. Mrs. TA”. ee Tlar TS, (THorpr.) [S.] Good | habit, lar ge fine shape flower, fragrant. . VOL IVa med. (snaxet.)[N.} White, marbled rosy pink, Philadelphia- TOCLT (aranny 16] Early, long stems, white, heavily edged with crim- son. Secreta are oy Te niearesee (stumonxs.) — [S.] (Sy n. Chas. | aad Large, white, shaded rose. Secretary James, (awvoss) [8] (Syn. Mrs. Carson.) White, striped scarlet. Secretary Hlatne. (siuvexs). [sj (Syn. Mrs. Carnagie.) | White with rosy pink stripes, will burst. Onele isct772. min) [NS] ~~ White, striped 2 with heht pink. Var-La Belle. (sam) [8] White, penciled , rosy carmine. ) W. Hf. rower. [x | Delicately penciled . scarlet. 148 CARNATION ‘CULTURE. —The ‘disease of Carnations called Brown-mould 1s of English origin; its first manifestation in America has been seen on the Pride of Penshurst, a variety of recent importation. . —A marked difference exists among varieties ‘of Carnations in promising and performing their yield of bloom; some sorts remain in bud a long time, others bloom as soon as their buds are developed. peal is the name given to Carnation cutttings of incipient canes; after they show a joint, they make tall ‘unsightly plants. The lowest healthy side shoots of the flower stems make stocky, symmetrical plants, always branching low, but do not bloom as soon as the former. —Mythology says the Carnation sprang from the blood of rival lovers, pla the poetical language of the flower has been “Disdain.” To modern Carnations is given a sympbolical language of warmer and more generous, sentiments according to their color White — Purity. Scarlet — Dignity. Crimson — Ardent Love. Pink — Acceptance. Yellow — False, light as. air. White- Variegate d — ps only. Yellow-V ariegated — Refusa —It is the nature of the roots of biennial plants the fivs¢ season to provide within themselves a store of nourishment and all necessary gerwzs, for full flowering and free fructification the second seasor The amount of root growth, the second season ‘. quite limited, and the juices are not directed in cre- CARNATION CULTURE, 149 ating zew flower germs, or increasing the stove of 1ourishment, but z are used for the immediate living wants of the plant. It is on this principle that the blooming cafacz/ of a Carnation in w¢xZer, is determined in the field during swmmer; favorable conditions the first season settles all, and the soz/ is the largest factor, in my opinion, with this plant. Cuttings from the same bench grown through summer in improper soil will be worthless for winter bloom, while those planted in proper soil will bloom profusely. —A flower is a transformed leafy branch. All organs are natural green leaves, which have under- gone a peculiar change. All changes in flowers are but modified forms of their tissues, their tissues being modified forms cf the leaves on the parent branch. Excessive plant nourishment, and conditions favoring its assimilation, is the key that unlocks all the mystery there is, in the unfoldment of new and better flowers. Plethora of plant food converts green eae in- to bracts, bracts into sepals, sepals into petals, petals into stamins and swells the doubleness of the corrol- la. The process of this modification 1s from. the circumference toward the pistil, the central female organ. This law is not uniform in its operations. It is the conversion ofthe organs of generation into petals that causes double flowers to be barren of seed, the germs of new plants. “The pistil is formed of a folded welded leaf. Natural conditions, quality and quantity of food, will in time reduce all highly improved flowers to a_ sin- ele, or to their natural type. The reverse is evolv- {150 CARNATION’ CULTURE. ‘ing now, and will continually i in the future new and ‘improved Speen in the floral -world, and the ulti- mate limit of these pe is beyond the Powseptigns of: man: eth al ates , _34EPILOGUE.:— “1 am done, I entered the Temple of Diavithiie ‘and the little that I-learned is written here. I leave ‘the book, for! what it is bijeninia an _ offering on the Altar. : 2 I love:the ‘Divine este de has been loved in the past. Its’ fame began in the morning of the -yester-days. Three thousand years ago it.shook its ‘fragrance from::ozz/ly five petals, and Greece, the *Jand of language and of: learning, exclaimed Dio- “~anthos! * 7 It will live and grow in esteem, as long. as men homage at the shrine of beauty and of fragrance. The soul’s strong affinities for this flower make it equally appropriate to the smiles of youth, or to the wrinkles of age; to the loneliness of the sick room; to seasons of pleasure, or to « seasons of sorrow; to the gay ties of the festal hour, or to lighten the shadows to the:silent beyond. | It is enduring. — Its comely symmetry makes it ‘the.sweetest “Smile of Nature;” its wide range of beauteous colors an illuminated “Letter in the Alphabet of Angels.”. While its weird perfume 1s the epitome of “all mystery, and makes it a Sis- yphus Flower, which mind will roll forever upward toward:the Great Unknowable. It is not haughty, but simple and genial. [t is not Queenly, but plainly democratic. CARNATION CULTURE. rai In the young world’s sunrise, it doubtless was a denizen of the Tropics. It has been a Pilgrim, and anchored near its Plymouth Rock. — Earth’s muta- tions made for ita home in the north. There it lives—ever-blooming as the flowers of the south, plainly grand, and defiantly beautiful. Its fragrance is of the gums and spices that are in the drowsy air of the isles of ocean, while its adorned corrolla shows the color wealth of all the zones Various flowers have shouldered for the world’s applause, The Tulip, Dahlia and Camelia have waxed and waned. [he Rose now has the people’s smiles. This is fame, but how unstable? It is hail- ed the ‘Queen of Flowers.” ‘*‘Her Majesty.” “Ben- net.” “Bride” and “Beauty; new. born heirs of greater promise, for atime, have stayed her totter- ing throne, but coronets are made of smiles and exile is but a frown. Dianthus is the coming flower. Its salvos are heard among the to-morrows. It contains imprison- ed wita its mvstic life force the flow of wonderful evolvement. Its marvelous nature ever responds to thesmacie touch ofthe Florists’ art:. Alt “is, ever abreast with the progress of the ages. Thirty years ago a new and nobler race came trooping into light, Every year new specimens of greater excellence make an advance in its mighty march of grandeur; to-day fifty rain-bow petals nestle around its anthers. Its other name is Evolution. When will these transformations of increasing beauty cease ? Whenthe Dynasty of Rosacez is deposed, and Caryophyllacez, sits, transfigured, on the Throne of Flora, as the world’s first love, “Divine Flower. The exact size of “SHA GULL” that took the Silver Fla- gon Prize. at Madison ‘Square Exhibition, in New York, in the 33% fall of 189]. CHAPTER. XXYV. ROOTING CUTTINGS. XPERIENCE has reduced itself to this maxim, viz: A WAZ: good Carnation cutting is in inverse ratio to a devel- as oped peduncle, cuttings should be rooted at a tempera- ture, so low, that it would require three weeks, or more, to do it. They can be rooted from Oct. Ist. until April 1st., and it is well there is a wide range of time, for a stock, productive of flowers, however ample, will not afford a large yield of good cuttings at any one time. [fa plant or stock of plants yields a profusion of cuttings they must be correspondingly un- proluctive of bloom, and the cuttings will partake of this fault. Cuttings are taken secondary to the crop of bloom, if it is desirable to propagate more largely they must be primary and the plants disbudded. Cuttings before striking, or immediately afterwards, with developed flower stems, are comparatively worthless. The best cuttings are obtained from the base of the least forced plants. Cuttings should be taken chiefly in December and January. Wm. Swayne says he gets the best results when struck in March. Chetty says he obtained good results and early field bloom from Henzie, struck in October. Henderson says incalculable damage is done to Carnations by striking them in a high temperature- Karly stuck cuttings, kept growing by carrying them foward into three and four inch pots will materially ad- vance the time of bloom, and thereby popularize Carnations as bedding plants for spring sales. FERTILIZERS. Further experience confirms the necessity of avoiding all manure in the field, or on the benches unless it is most 154 CARNATION CULTURE. thoroughly rotted; partially decomposed manure is positively injurious to Carnations. Lime, Ground Bone, and well rotted manure are the best fertilizers for the field, for the benches Bone and manure water. Thorp thinks the benched plants should be stimu- lated with manure water at the time the heaviest crops of bloom are making their drafts on the life forces of the plants. Alfred Whittle and William Brinker, successful Carna- tion growers, recommend ashes from wood and burnt sods as valuable fertilizers for the benches. Mr. Brinker avers as an experience that wood ashes have the noticeable effect of inten- sifying the respective colors of Carnation flowers. Foreign agents, it has long been known, has marked effect: upon the color of flowers, as 18 especially seen in the Hydrangea bloom. FIELD SOIL FOR CARNATIONS. should be of a clayey nature, well enriched and pulverized, with a porous sub-soil or underdrained. For the roots of Car- nations to ‘‘raméle,’’ as one writer puts it, ina rich sandy soil is to induce that condition of development described under the head of “LARGE PLANTS” which above all things is to be avoided. TEMPERATURE FOR CARNATIONS. For continuous bloom and healthy plants on the benches from October until July, the night temperature should be about 45 degrees andthe day temperature some 20 degrees higher. The Florist may be enabled to realize more out of his crop, if he can obtain the bulk of the bloom earlier in the season, or on stated occasions, when both the day and night temperature can be raised some twenty degrees, but any temperature materially higher than the ones first mentioned, will be at the expense of the season’s run of bloom. It is however true that it is the nature of some varieties to revel in a temperature that would be positively injurious to other kinds. CARNATION CULTURE. 155 But the artificial conditions of plant life are so easily varied, and slight variations so telling in results, that two Florists side by side and aiming at a common treatment for their respective houses would hardly reach precisely the same condition of crop, and no treatise however accurate and particular in detail, can supplement a want of exacting care and a high degree of discriminating intelligence on the part of the Florist. ROTATING CARNATIONS. If trouble besets a Carnation crop on ground im which they have been repeatedly grown, suspicion is aroused that a repetition of the crop on the same soil may be the cause. This is often important to the Forist, not but there are ample lands to rotate the small area of land required for this crop, but it may not be in condition, or under his control, or quite remote from his glass. Rotating crops is a rational and well established prac- tice in Agriculture, and every Physiological and Chemical principle relating to plant life makes the theory and practice equally applicable to Horticulture. But the comparative small space of land required to summer grow this crop makes it possible, annually, to quite fully restore all the elements taken from the ground by the crop, if we knew what they were. Lime is believed to be one of the chief ingredients most largely exhausted by a Carnation crop, and must be artificially supplied, in case of continuous culture. Two cases are reported where Caruations have been continuously grown on the same ground on which Lime was used, for ten consecutive years without disease or apparent deterioration of the plants. The Carnation industry is comparatively new. The Author bought of the first four Carnations cata- logued for sale in America, so it is not strange if there are va- rying theories and practices in their culture, but there can be 156 CARNATION CULTURE. but ove set of continuous conditions best suited to their health and highest floressence, to know and supply these con- ditions is perfect Carnation culture, hitherward an intelli- gent experience tends. HEADING-IN CARNATIONS. All the heading-in or “pruning” a Carnation plant needs is to pinch off the bud, between the thumb and fore-finger, when the stem lifts it well above the foliage. This rule applies to Carnations in all conditions whether in the cutting bench, boxes, pots, or field, if in the field it should be done with reference to the time the bloom of the plant can b2 utilized, it is considered, that disbudding plants in the field delays much further bloom about twenty days. By delaying heading-in, until this time, the least damage will be done the plant, and lateral branches are sooner ob- tained. A Carnation plant from a proper cutting is not hasty in showing a bud, if the peduncle runs quickly up, crowned with a bud, you have a worthless plant from a bastard cutting. From the “‘cradle to the greve,”’ no Carna- tion plant should be mutilated by cutting off its branches, pulling out the heart of the main, stem or leaf pruning, and if practiced is simply criminal plant surgery. There are but two reasons for ever wantonly wounding the smallest leaf of a Carnation plant, viz: to induce laterals, and conserve vital force. It is the gluctin, sugar, starch, &e., elaborated by the vital chemistry of the plant and deposited in the ovules, or seed (food for embryo plants) that is exhaustive of its vital forces, it is not the petal, or corolla. or any other botanical part of the bud or flower, for they are all modified leaves of the plant and toan extent perform healthful functions in the plant’s economy. The marvellous flowering capacity of the double flowering plants of to-day is owing to their being largely unproductive CARNATION CULTURE. 157 of seeds, and therefore vitai force is conserved. Secondary to cut bloom, I have never been able to obtain an ounce of good seed, in a season, from twenty thousand Carna'ion p'ants. The Carnation grower need not be frightened at the appearance of a few buds on his field plants, and that they will fritter away all their tlooming energies. Henzie is being restored to confidence «s a profitable blooming variety by a system of treatment first recommended by us four years ago, viz: that it should never be disbudded in the field. Cutting off the leaves, pulling out the hearts of the stems of the small plants has precisely the same effect on the plant as cutting off a proportional quantity of their roots. There is a perfect ¢«quilibrium inthe absorbing capacity of a plant de/ow the ground surface, and its exhaling capacity above the ground surface. Thedaestruction of half of its lungs or exhaling organs discharges from service half of its feeding or absorbing organs. Every Florist knows he can carry the plants from which he cuts his stock, back into smaller pots. A plant or tree, tep pruned can be equally artificially root pruned and if it is not so done nature will do it, to preserve the balance. Wonderful miniature fruit and forest trees are grown by the Chinese by a system of root pruning, the top geometri- cally proportioning its littleness to the pruned roots, so will the roots precisely proportion themselves to the pruned top. In annuals and perennials, the damage arising from the distinction of the balance between fop and bottom, is by their natures more easily repaired than their case with biennials. The roots of biennials perform a different or an addi- tional duty than do the roots of the other classes, viz: the storage in the system of the plants all the elements requir- ed for its full fruition the following season. 158 CARNATION CULTURE. In the two first classes the stimulus of perpetuating of spiece is 7mmediate, in the other continuous, aud in the last class its hope is with the coming season. The Carnation is a biennial, its life in the field is the first year of its existence, its life under glass corresponds with its second season, or winter, its intervening dormant state is dispensed with, end its life forces made to act con- tinuously by the witchery of the Florist’s art. When it is understood how vital and laborious are the functions of the roots of a bienuial the 77st season, it will be very clear how the least interference with them by top pruning must be irreparable, damaging to their best state the second season, and with Carnations that are on the benches. | LARGE PLANTS. The floressence of all plants is in inverse ratio to the life forces being ¢xpended on a rank growth of foliage and stems. Experience now points a preference for a medium sized plant with good roots, fine form and well ripened shoots, as a model Carnation plant, which when transferred to the bench will yield the most bloom. The great desire has been to have large plants for hfting, this is changed; size is not the measure of a plant’s flowering capacity. A large succulent growing Carnation