2l8 



Cornell Extension Bulletin io 



branches of value in the garden varieties in that they indicate stronger 

 growers. Burbank remarks that they improve the appearance of " the 

 dwarf, sturdy varieties"; Auten beheves them of value because they 

 heighten the effect " when they bloom at the same time as the main," 

 and Betscher because they may " extend the season." Bonvallet values 

 branches chiefly because they relieve the stiffness of the plant. Brown, 

 Spencer, Bassett, N. L. Crawford, Stewart, Flanagan, Van Fleet, M. 

 Crawford, Zeestraten, Moore, Bull, Tait, and Mrs. Atkinson are of much 

 the same opinion — that branches are of a decided advantage for cut- 

 flower use. Branches may, however, be considered of value to the florist 

 who uses the individual flowers in design work. On the other side, there 

 is a group of growers who believe that branches are objectionable; some 



Fig. 22. TRANSFORMATION OF A STAMEN INTO AN EXTRA PERIANTH SEGMENT, OR PETAL 



A is a normal stamen, which in B shows a tendency of the filament to widen. C, D, E, F show 

 successive stages of the transformation of the filament, in each step of which the anther area is 

 plainly visible. G is a stamen fully converted into a perianth segment in which the blotch repre- 

 sents the anther area. These forms were found on one spike of a seedling 



of these believe that the branches reduce the vigor of the main, and others 

 hold that branched spikes are difficult to pack properly. 



Fuld notes that commercial varieties should be those that may be cut 

 when only one blossom is open, with the ability to open the others in the 

 dark. A requisite of a commercial variety is also that it may be packed 

 without bruising and shipped easily without injury. 



The quaUties of a good variety adapted to landscape planting are as 

 follows: First of all, the color should be bright, striking, and distinct; 

 the markings, if any, should be decided. The spike should be straight, 

 stiff, upright, and stronger than in commercial varieties. Branches are 

 rather advantageous. There should be tall, mediimi, and dwarf varieties, 

 so that few varieties would be objectionable for this reason. The blooms 

 should be larger than in the commercial varieties, provided the plants 

 have the power of producing flowers of uniform size all the way up the 



