September 22, 1906 



HORTlCULTURi: 



311 



Bottom Facts About Carnations 



AN INTERVIEW WITH EDWARD A STROUD, OF STRAFFORD, PA. 

 Reams and reams of talk on the car- commons, where it is impossible to Eneland and New York Erowers. 

 nation have appeared in the trade pa- get more than $4 tor fancies. There is namely our very hot July and \ueusL 

 pers during the past two years. Much an exception to this: for some reason If we 'plant directiv into bench they 

 of it has been repetition. Much of it they manage with Prosperity and En- do not feel at home and we naturally 

 has been hot air. Here and there chantress to keep the price up: but turn aRain to field culture Now in 

 would be a shining nu.gget ol truth for with the other fancy varieties at nor- order to get around this I have 

 those of the keen eye: but usually so mal times they never reach a much planned to propagate all my cuttings 

 embedded in a mass of chaff that the higher level than $4.00 per 100. The in .lanuary and February iceep shift- 

 ordinao' individual was eniirply ob- reason for this is that the retail stores ing the same until I get them in four- 

 livious of its presence. Expert after cannot ask over $1.00 per dozen at av- inch pots. In order to cut down the 

 expert has appeared before florists' erase times, and only the best places watering I will plunge in peat moss 

 clubs in every part of the country to even then, while numbers of the which will tend to keen the soil at an 

 tell us all about it, and the general smaller stores can get only 50 and 7.'. even moisture, also Iceep the roots cool 

 result has been to confirm Tallyrand's cents per dozen. But 1 would not by and prevent the plant from getting 

 famous dictum that 'ianguage was in- any means advocate the growing of stunted. This will necessitate throw- 

 vented to conceal thought." commons entirely. Lawson finished ing out some of the old plants in order 

 We are glad to have found a man poorly this year, but was third the to make room for these four-inch pots, 

 broad-minded enough to tell the plain year before. This, however, is not at The "man behind the hose" is a great 

 truth on the matter and willing to give all fair to the variety because it did factor in indoor cultivation, but I feel 

 facts and figures to back up his asser- poorly with us at planting and was a the plunging will greatly eliminate the 

 tions. long time getting under way. The danger. .A.nother great point is that it 

 Mr. Edward A. Stroud, of Strafford. poor showing of Lieut. Peary is ex- will do away with the great rush which 

 Pa., is now recognized as one of the plained by its having been propagated always occurs when planting from the 

 leaders in modern commercial carna- heavily for cuttings. 1 would advise field: it will also eliminate to a great 

 tion culture. He has an extensive es- the specialist to grow a fancy and extent the summer shading, and work 

 tablishment of latest construction, and common in each color, and particular- will proceed more surely and results 

 his results, detailed later, are obtained ly white. For the smaller grower who will be more certain. Itis a sad blow 

 under the most favorable circum- has a couple of houses, and is consign- to pay out $100 per 1000 for new va- 

 stances. A small grower with less ing, I would advise growing but one or rieties, and only lift, say, one-half, or 

 complete equipment could never hope two varieties. To the private garden- even less at times. The field plants 

 to gain the same efficiency per sciuare er who is limited for space, I would make a tjuick unnatural growth, and 

 foot. But here is the touchstone for advise growing the freest bloomer, or while they are sometimes large and 

 comparison between a good machine a .good white and Enchantress, which beautiful to behold, they are really 

 and a poor one, and every one can is the freest and best blooming fancy." what I might term 'water logged.' 

 read, learn and inwardly digest it for fiiold culture vs. i.nsidi-; cur,- "The great advance in the cultiva- 

 himself. TURE. tion of the carnation reauires advanced 

 HORTICULTURE is proud to be the There has been a warm controversy treatment, especially for the specialist 

 first and exclusive medium for giving for years on the comparative merits Of course some years the field plants 

 publicity to these bottom facts in car- of outside and inside culture. One year may get under way quicker: but take 

 nation culture, and congratulates its the best growers would say yes, the as an example — A buys 1000 of a new 

 readers in at last bein.g able to give next year no, and so the thing has variety and benches 990 by indoor cul- 

 them something really tangible on been going until most every one was tivation; B buys 1000 of the same va- 

 which they can base their calculations a law unto himself. But out of this riety and benches OGO plants by field 

 for the future and size up the merits chaos of opinion and counter opinion culture much finer plants and some- 

 of the leading varieties up to the pres- there has gradually evolved a few well what in advance of A. I will leave it 

 ent moment settled facts, and the digest of same to your own judgment which is the 



This preface is necessary to enable cannot be better stated than in Mr. best. I consider A the best. 



any one to appreciate the great signi- Stroud's own words: "The market for carnations really 



ficance of the following table. Every "This year's experience in growing does not open until, I might say, 



figure therein is a fact and is worthy carnations out-of-doors has entirely Thanksgiving Day. With the great 



of careful study. The subsequent ex- changed my ideas. 1 am now con- improvement in asters, dahlias, chr>'s- 



planatory remarks of Mr. Stroud on vinced that more certain results can anthemums. these have their turn, and 



the same, if carefully digested, will be obtained through indoor culture. we must wait and get our carnations at 



well repay any really serious student Last year our loss outdoors was prac- their best. What we mean by carna- 



of the problem and do more for the tically nothing: the plants got away tions at their best is quantity and 



advancement of modern carnation cul- nicely and were soon at work, but quality at a time when good prices 



ture than is apparent on the surface: — after the last rainy summer my loss can be got for them. The foregoing 



are only my own views and have not 



MR. STROUD'S STATISTICS — SEASON OF 1905-06. been thoroughly tested, but T intend to 



NUMBER FLOWERS CUT EACH MONTH PER SQ. FT. follow out the same the coming year." 



Oct Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mch. Apr. May June July Total That winds up Mr. Stroud's remarks. 



Enchantress 09 l.H 1.7::! 2.7 2.3 4.4 4.9 .3.5 0.1 2.7 .-iO.S In conclusion I think it well tO men- 



<tov. Bliss .'i.:? 1.7 2.7 2.5 2.7 5.1 X 3.3 <:.!• 2.0 ATiA tion that the statistics and opinions 



M. k. Patten l.G .7 .s 1.8 1.7 2.4 2. 4.7 9.3 1-5 26.5 above recorded were given the writer 



F?rrvv'i A if i"4 ^i o t'^ r si -5 H 'i^i by Mr. Stroud only after much thought 



Lieut Pearv'' 12 14 i.' \-2 lA 2.3 LS s! 3.5 iio isis on his part and some pressure on mine. 



Flamingo . .". 1.5 1.3 1.5 1.4 2.1 3.2 2. 7. 13.7 13.7 He being a very modest gentleman. 



May .Xaylor 1.0 .8 1.1 1.8 1.5 2. 4.G 5.8 8.6 3.3 30.5 .^^.gg extremely afraid someone might 



Genevieve Lord. 1.7 1.3 1.8 2.3 1.9 3. 3. 3. 9.8 3..'t 31.3 ,«;t.^^nofniiQ anrl ink-p ndvnntaffp of 



Ladv Bountiful.. 1.0 .8 1.4 2.3 2.1 2.5 4.9 2.7 2.9 1.5 2-2.1 misconstrue f"'' ,^'l'^f. f''^,^°*^S®_°t 



.My Maryland.... 1.1 1.4 2.6 1.9 3. 3. 3. 1-3. such open and candid Statements. But 



Crane .". OS 2.28 2. 2.6 1.7 2.4 11- a vcar's reasoning and discussion with 



Harry Fenn 1.7 1.8 L.T 2.3 1.7 3. 4. 5.9 8.5 2.8 .33.2 ^j.^. j,.,,,^, ^^g finally convinced Mr. 



Prosperity 1.1 0.7 .7 .7 .0 .6 1.8 4.9 6.i 2.0 19.8 o, _„,,,] tho nrncrrpss and aiivancement 



Cardinal 2.0 1.6 1.2 2.6 3.1 3.5 2. lO. Stroud the progress and ad\ ancemeni 



Fiancee 1.3 .0 1-2 1.8 2.1 3. 3.6 13.1 of the business is a consideration for 



which we should all sacrifice some- 



WHAT MR. STROUD SAYS ON ABOVE was more than I had ever experienced, thing. 



STATISTICS. and I cannot recommend taking the 



"After keeping careful tabulated ree- risk of planting outdoors new and ex- ^ 



ords for 3 years of different vrMieties, pensive varieties, leaving them to the A^ 



I have found, with the exception of fortune of the weather. The excessive yiif ^ J /^— ^ 



Enchantress, that the strictly fancy amount of rain made it impossible to '\/ /^^L^^ /'\iC^ ylr^D'^yxA 



varieties do not yield the same returns cultivate as I could have wished. Now. '^ (_7~^^ HI>/ ^^"^-Tl 



in proportion to "the common. The rea- how are we to get around this objec- ^^^ 



son for this is, the commission men tion? We have a different proposition ^ . ^ 



can ask $2.50 per 100 for well grown in the matter of weather than our New 



