THE IMPROVEMENT OF CARNATIONS. 1^^ 



ably as many variegated, and one a dull scarlet. If we continue our present 

 method of somewhat haphazard breeding we will, no doubt, not only have 

 more of these sports in the future, but we will have varieties which will show 

 great variability in many important characteristics, and possibly the cultivation 

 of the hybrid carnation may become increasingly difficult in proportion to the 

 carelessness with which we breed them. 



I am of the opinion that indiscriminate breeding on a large scale, while 

 it may produce occasional good results, is largely a waste of effort, and I 

 would heartily recommend breeding to secure a definite improvement. I have 

 always kept fairly accurate records of the work done, and have proved to my 

 own satisfaction that more uniformly better results were secured from the 

 pedigree stock than from the ordinary indiscriminately bred carnations. 



As to the determining influences of the respective parent plants I have 

 not been able to bring myself to believe that the pollen parent has a positive 

 determining influence upon color, but where the desired color predominates in 

 several generations of both parents it is comparatively easy to reproduce that 

 color. I have also not been able to decide that the pistilate parent has a 

 definite determining influence upon habit, but believe that the same rule will 

 hold good as that mentioned before as applying to color. 



As before mentioned, in working for a definite result several intervening 

 hybrids bearing Init little resemblance to the type sought may occur. But, if 

 the type sought predominates in the ancestry of both parents, the chances to 

 secure it in an improved form will be increased. In my opinion the combi- 

 nation of better culture with the improved hybrids has in a large measure 

 secured our present improvement in carnations. I mention this particularly 

 as I well remember the time when many of the older growers of carnations 

 found fault with the modern hybridizer because he grew his carnations in rich 

 soil or practised feeding the plants in order to secure better results. Much 

 may be done to aid the improvement of the carnation by selection of propa- 

 gating wood. After the hybrid has been secured it can be much improved by 

 a skillful selection of the cuttings used to perpetuate the variety. This seems 

 to be proved by the fact that we have been able to produce a fine commercial 

 variety by selecting the strongest and best cuttings from an inferior hybrid 

 plant, and continuing this selection until we secured a fine improved habit. 



During the course of my experiments I have become convinced that the 

 condition of the plant at the time fertilization takes place has an important 

 influence on the progeny. This has led me to do my fertilizing, as far as 

 possible, when the plants are in the strongest and most vigorous condition. 

 I do not mean to say that the plant should be highly fed, as where very high 

 feeding is practised or the soil is overly rich it is very often difficult to get 

 seed. But I particularly desire my plants to be growing in the best possible 

 atmospheric condition, and in a soil that produces a vigorous yet normal 

 growth. I should not expect the best seedling carnations to be produced by 

 plants growing under unfavorable conditions, but quite the contrary. The 

 elimination of undesirable individual seedlings is practised to some extent 

 before setting the plants in the field, this being determined by judging the 

 plant for habit alone. 



Each year I find several good varieties in each class, and the question of 



