PREFACE 



OME five or six years since, in an unguarded moment, I 

 promised my friend, Mr. A. T. De La Mare, President of the 

 publishing firm which bears his name, that 1 would write a 

 work upon the American Carnation. I scarcely knew at the 

 time the magnitude of the task which I had so lightly agreed 

 to undertake, and did not recognize it until the work was under way. While 

 keenly appreciating my unfitness, through lack of the necessary early training 

 which every florist should have, to impart practical knowledge to my fellow 

 carnation growers, the work was, nevertheless, undertaken with an earnest 

 desire to do the carnation fraternity some good, as well as to increase the 

 interest of the general public in the Divine Flower. During the twelve 

 years in which I have been trying to learn successful carnation culture, 

 large numbers of plants and flowers have been grown, and a small fortune 

 expended in experimental work. While meeting with a measure of success 

 that has at times been very encouraging, there have been still enough serious 

 failures to rob the work of much of its pleasures. 



The growing- of carnations was commenced merely as an occupation 

 by means of which to while away time which hung heavily upon my hands, 

 as a consequence of being ordered out of business for the purpose of 

 recuperating impaired health, and at first little thought was had of continuing 

 it as a permanent employment. However, as the work progressed it became 

 more and more interesting, which interest was especially increased by the 

 delightful occupation of hybridizing and producing new varieties ; and I 

 am now quite satisfied that the venture has contributed largely to the recovery 

 of my health, and if nothing more had been accomplished, the time, energy 

 and capital expended have been well repaid. But I make free to believe that 

 my efforts in assisting in the development of American carnation culture 

 have been of material aid to the craft. It is unquestionably true that many 

 carnations are now grown wdiere one was grown before, and larger and finer 

 blooms are produced and sold at higher prices than was the case twelve 

 years ago; and, in addition, the general public now hold the Divine Flower 

 in greater esteem, and to this result I am proud to believe that my quota of 

 assistance has contributed. 



