Carnation Culture in Massachusetts 



The present firm, J\ Dorncr & Sons Co., has been incorporated as a stock con- 

 cern, and consists of Air. Dorner himself, and his five elder children — two sons, Fred 

 E. and Theodore A., and three daughters, Emily, Mrs. Anna D. Hudson, and Mrs. 

 Emma D. Riddle. All are actually engaged in the business, excepting the last named. 



Mr. Dorner's greatest achievement so far has been the variety Fiancee. It is 

 considered the largest perfect carnation to date, for the stock of which it is reported 

 he has received $15,000 from The Chicago Carnation Co., of Joliet, 111. 



Carnation Culture in Massachusetts 



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Carnation cnlture of to-day differs so radically from the methods pur- 

 sued ten years ago, and, no doubt, from those that will prevail five years 

 hence, that it is extremely difficult, and almost impossible, to state any spe- 

 cific line of treatment, as one must be largely governed by the requirements 

 of the special varieties of the times. It will be found that some sorts require 

 culture radically difit'erent from others to develop the points of excellence 

 they may possess ; and it is unwise to condemn a variety because it may not 

 succeed in some localities, as the wide variation of soils has much to do with 

 many failures often charged to the variety denotmced as worthless. Always 

 remember, if the originator can grow a variety sucessfully others can, 

 when its special re(|uiremcnts are understood. Simply because a variety 

 may not be very early, as regards season, that does not, by any means, denote 

 it is worthless commercially. For instance, allowing pure white to be, all 

 around, the most valuable color, it will be found that an extremely early 

 sort often gets partially ofif crop toward Christmas and the dull, short days 

 of winter ; when, by having one of the same color which gives a succession 

 of blooms, as to season, coming in with its first crop, say, during Novem- 

 ber and early December, it will bridge over the defective season of the early 

 variety, and so afford a continuance of first-quality flowers. 



The selection of cuttings is of the first importance, and great care should 

 be exercised that they are taken from the flowering stems of plants that 

 are in robust health, and from varieties in colors commercially valuable. 

 Late-blooming sorts should be propagated as early as the first week in Janu- 

 arv, while early varieties can be successfully grown from cuttings taken the 

 latter ])art of March. A good average season in which to select the cuttings 

 is from February 15 to March 15, providing they can be obtained in num- 

 bers sufficient for the needs of the grower ; otherwise, judgment must be 



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