420 



The Weekly Florists' Review- 



a lutich larger cut from same space. The 

 smaller foliage also admits the sunlight 

 to the base of the plant, and during the 

 dull winter months is not usually subject 

 to attacks from insect pests, or damaged 

 through syringing, like soft fleshy sorts. 

 The best time to apply the pollen is 

 on a bright sunny morning or forenoon, 

 and the time should be regulated by the 

 condition of the atmosphere in the 

 house; but the pollen should be dry, and 

 applied while the ventilators arc opened, 

 as the moisture settles on the plants 

 within a few minutes after closing up 

 the house, and so is not conducive to best 

 results in fertilizing the flowers. If im- 

 pregnation has taken place the bloom 

 operated upon will usually show it by 

 wilting or "going to sleep" within twen- 

 ty-four hours. The method of applying 

 the pollen has been so often explained, 

 and is so simple, that I need not here de- 

 scribe it. It should be done systemati- 

 cally, always having an aim in view. 

 When the flowers are in proper condition, 

 depends upon the varieties, some being 



seedlings will be freely raised in this 

 manner, unfolding a wealth of colors, 

 and of a generaf quality, requiring the 

 discarding of a very small percentage. 

 (A house 'of such a strain would be a 

 boon to the average florist with a good 

 retail home trade.) I also believe the 

 quality of those flowers will be as 

 marked in the carnation, as in the pansy 

 or gloxinia of today raised from seed, 

 where they also twenty-five years ago 

 were propagated from cuttings and 

 leaves, to perpetuate the best varieties. 



This high strain in carnation seedlings 

 can only be attained by the most careful 

 attention of the hybridizer. He must 

 have a standard to work up to, and he 

 must raise that standard high, having in 

 mind the very best he knows of in exist- 

 ence, and his aim must be to surpass 

 it, no matter if he may already be the 

 possessor of the best yet raised. 



Keep records of each cross you make, 

 note carefully the results, especially of 

 those you find to be decided acquisitions. 

 It mnv lake years before you altairr the 



Carpet bed reprt'st-ntiiif? thu Coat of An 



The Carnation Society's Exhibition at Baltimore. 



ready almost as soon as the bloom ex- 

 pands, others take as long as two weeks 

 to develop their organs. This knowledge 

 must be attained through close observa- 

 tion. 



In hybridizing always strive towards 

 retaining an ideal habit of plant, healthy 

 and vigorous, of stiff, wiry growth, pro- 

 ducing freely fragrant flowers (if pos- 

 sible) of largest size and substance, on 

 strong stems, and in shades of color that 

 will appeal to the public taste, but it 

 must be a ready seller. Self-colors are 

 usually most useful from a commercial 

 standpoint, and yet there is ever a de- 

 m.nnd for something new, both in style 

 and color. 



Indiscriminate crossing is not to be 

 recommended, as it lacks in interest and 

 is not instructive. I do not mean to say 

 one cannot go at it haphazard, using 

 the superior varieties of today and get 

 grand results. That can be done with- 

 out a doubt, and I also believe the time 

 is fast approaching when through the 

 rapid improvement of the carnation, 



object for which you have been striving, 

 there will be many disappointments, but 

 it is this everlasting keeping at it that 

 brings success. I believe it is possible 

 by carefully and persistently working, 

 taking separate shades of color, crossing 

 white with white, pink with pink, crim- 

 son with crimson, etc., year after year, 

 using the product until mixed colors will 

 gradually disappear, and a very large 

 percentage will come true to color. It 

 will take years to accomplish it, but once 

 you get this clear blood infused into your 

 strains you can foretell pretty closely 

 what to expect from each batch of seed- 

 lings. This is one of the great advantages 

 of keeping records, and a systematic 

 method of working. With indiscriminate 

 crossing you commence in the dark and 

 contihue there. 



One's lack of knowledge as to the par- 

 entage of many of the new intro- 

 ductions from year to year is often a 

 great disadvantage to one who keeps a 

 strict record. With a knowledge of their 

 parentage back two or three or more 



years one could act more intelligently 

 and much of the mystery as to the diver- 

 sity of colors in their olfspring would be 

 explained. And yet this lack of knowl- 

 edge often has a saving element in it, 

 as it often infuses new vigor where too 

 close breeding might have a tendency to 

 running out and weakening of the stock. 



We are all working along separate 

 lines towards the same goal and who can 

 tell what a combination of the best re- 

 sults of each individual eflTort may yet 

 accomplish for the improvement of the 

 carnation of the future. Long ago the 

 word was passed that the "limit" had 

 been reached, and yet each successive 

 year sees a new record established, and so 

 it will be for years to come. Whether we 

 have retrograded or progressed can only 

 be ascertained by looking backward, in 

 any calling of life, and so with the cul- 

 ture and improvement of the Divine 

 Flower. 



As we bring this test to bear upon the 

 carnation of today as compared with 

 those of ten or even five years ago, no 

 one will dispute the fact that they loom 

 up as a "New Creation." Yet, great as 

 has been the advance in the last decade 

 it will, in my opinion, be far eclipsed in 

 the next five years. I believe that the 

 improvement of the carnation is only in 

 its infancy. We are like children play- 

 ing (111 the beach, here and there picking 

 up a pebble, and yet, beyond is the vast 

 ocean of nature's boundless store, from 

 which we are trying to coax some of her 

 hidden treasures, and our success will be 

 just in proportion to the intelligent and 

 untiring effort put forth, taking advan- 

 tage of the natural means put within our 

 reach. 



The last stage, but by no means the 

 least important part of the hybridizer's 

 work, is the final selection of the varie- 

 ties to be disseminated to the trade. Al- 

 ways remember that you are apt to be 

 a prejudiced party, and naturally so, in 

 favor of your own productions. They 

 ought to be tested three or more years 

 before distributing. During this period 

 you (if expert in your business) cannot 

 fail to see and note the faults of each 

 variety. Compare them conscientiously 

 with the very best you know of in their 

 class. That must be your standard to 

 go by; you must have something tangi- 

 ble; anything imaginary is but the ever 

 receding "ideal"; its size, substance and 

 wealth of colors can only be guessed at. 

 If you are fortunate enough to have our 

 best growers visit your establishment, 

 note carefully their opinion; it is often 

 worth much if expressed, but as a rule 

 the amount of interest taken in the in- 

 spection of a variety is a pretty sure in- 

 dication of its excellence. 



There is always a demand for some 

 new shade of color, and in trying to in- 

 troduce it do not forget that we are ca- 

 tering to the public taste. Note care- 

 fully'thc opinion of lady visitors of cul- 

 ture as they pass through your green- 

 houses; they are usually excellent judges. 

 If your pet variety is passed unnoticed, 

 do not take up time nursing it any 

 longer. If it is something that at once 

 attracts their attention it is pretty safe 

 to say it will prove a success. Last of 

 all, take it to the annual meeting of the 

 American Carnation Society and let it 

 be compared with the best products of 

 other growers. It is pretty sure to get 

 scored just about where it belongs, ex- 

 cept on general habit and productiveness 

 of the plant, which the originator alone 

 can know. But if he would retain the 

 I respect of his fellow florists let him hew 



