February 3, 1906 



HORTICULTURE 



13S> 



THE CARNATION OF THE FU- 

 TURE. 



Read before the Gardeners' and Floiisis' 

 Club of Boston, by Peter Fisher. 



We think of the past with its at- 

 tainments or failures. We live in the 

 present and see it recede to the past 

 like a scene in a kaleidoscope. The 

 future is mythical and hazy: no man 

 knows what it has in store for us; 

 we can only guess in a measure. 

 Looking backward for a moment and 

 judging from what has been and is 

 being accomplished, we may form a 

 pardonable estimate of what will or 

 may be towards the development of 

 the carnation of the future. 



To make any true progress we 

 must always have an ideal to work 

 up to, but the ideal carnation is al- 

 ways just a little in advance of us. 

 We think to grasp it and find some- 

 thing imperfect instead, and as we 

 look again day-dreaming we again see 

 our ideal ever ahead in all its beauti- 

 ful and varied shades of color, perfec- 

 tion of form, and luxurious growth. 

 This is well, for were perfection at- 

 tainable here, progress would cease. 

 What culture and selection have done 

 for the improvement of the carnation 

 in the past it will do on a larger de- 

 gree in the future, and as the stand- 

 ard rises higher and higher, the fancy 

 varieties will be succeeded by a class 

 more perfect and beautiful, with high- 

 er class still beyond. Imagine, if you 

 can, a type of carnations in beautiful 

 and varied shades of popular colors, 

 so far in excess of the best of today 

 in point of size, as to rival the Ameri- 

 can Beauty rose, and sold at prices 

 unheard-of. This is within the range 

 of possibility; we are steadily but sure- 

 ly coming up to this standard. 



In the near future, varieties of car- 

 nations specially adapted for the pur- 

 pose will be grown in pans and meet 

 with a ready sale and increasing de- 

 mand. Dwarf, compact-growing, free- 

 flowering varieties will be the type, in 

 varied shades of color. Think how 

 well-grown specimens of a scarlet, for 

 instance, would sell at Christmas. 



After another season of experience 

 and close observation, I am more than 

 ever convinced that the best carna- 

 tions of the future will be grown in- 

 doors exclusively, much in the same 

 manner as roses are handled today. 

 By this method of culture you will ob- 

 tain a steady supply of bloom supe- 

 rior in every way to field-grown 

 plants. But the houses in which they 

 are grown must be specially adapted. 

 Those running north and south will 

 have a decided advantage over those 

 running east and west, as the stock 

 can be grown cooler during the hot. 

 days of summer; the advantage of 

 better light in an east and wist house 

 in winter will not affect the advantage 

 of a north and south as a growing 

 house during summer, and with this 

 thorough root action the difference in 

 number of blooms obtained will 

 scarcely be perceptible, with a decid- 



Hodse of "The Aristocrat' 



Photographed Dec. 20, 1905. 



ed advantage in quality in favor of 

 the north and south house during hot 

 spring days. Benches will be best for 

 this method and those with tile bot- 

 toms preferable, as they will be bene- 

 ficial in retaining moisture and keep- 

 ing the roots cool. Not less than five 

 inches of soil should be used, as shal- 

 low benches require too much water- 

 ing during hot days, which tends to 

 sour the soil. A large, wide, span- 

 roofed structure with continuous ven- 

 tilation on each side of the ridge and 

 at the sides will be the type of green- 

 house best suited for this purpose. 

 The dissemination of the carnation of 

 the future will be along different lines 

 from that of the past or present; a 

 strict record of its merits and faults 

 will be kept in tabulated form, at 

 least two years prior to distribution, 

 stating how many blooms it will pro- 

 duce per square foot of bench space, 

 how many plants to the square foot, 

 date when cutting of blooms com- 

 menced, when plants were thrown out. 

 and number of saleable or split blooms 

 picked from a given bench space each 

 day. These records will be kept for 

 inspection at any time. A synopsis 

 of this report will be added along with 

 the advertisement of the cuttings, and 

 placed on the exhibition tables when 

 new varieties are shown, and the con- 

 fidence of the trade will be restored. 

 Then as our successors in business 

 look up the records of our past and 

 present methods, they will draw the 

 cloak of charity over the past, but the 

 blush of shame will tint the cheeks 

 of some, as they reflect on the shady 

 methods — it may be of a parent who 

 has passed beyond. 



How is all this to be accomplished? 

 First by improved culture of our best 

 existing varieties, then it is simply 

 culture and selection all the way 

 along. 



HORTICULTURE Publishing Com- 

 pany: 



I take pleasure in renewing my sub- 

 scription for the second year of HOR- 

 TICULTURE and I sincerely hope that 

 the new year may bring you lots of in- 

 creased business. The attractive way 

 in which you publish your paper ought 

 to secure many new subscribers and 

 advertisers. J. F. 



Advertise . . . 



. Carnations . 

 Now ! ! 



The Convention 



being over 



and the winners 



recorded 



BUYERS 

 Are Ready To 

 NEGOTIATE!! 



HORTICULTURE 



Reaches 



THE BUYER 



