122 CARNATIONS IN THE NORTHWEST 



harder to control than under glass. There is also a heavy 

 demand for early Carnations which frequently bring better 

 prices than later ones. The average time from propagating 

 to the beginning of cutting flowers has proved to be approxi- 

 mately twelve months. From the experience of many 

 growers it has been demonstrated that Carnation varieties 

 in general appear to deteriorate less quickly on this Coast 

 than in other sections of the country. 



Carnations are grown in all sorts of greenhouses today, 

 but the newer ranges now being built are mostly of the 

 Moninger and King patterns. Benches in general are 5 ft. 

 wide. Tall and slender growing varieties are usually 

 planted 8 in. x 10 in. apart, and heavy growers of the 

 Enchantress type 10 in. x 12 in. The average size glass 

 in use at the present is nearly all 16 in. x 18 in. 



One of Portland's expert growers of Carnations has 

 accurate cost and crop records based on seven years of 

 observation. The cost of production of 7000 plants from 

 the time of propagating until ten months' crop has been 

 harvested, has given an average figure of I93^c. per plant, 

 allowing, also, in the cost, for a 10 per cent, depreciation in 

 the value of buildings. The a,verage cut per plant proved 

 to be 13 good salable flowers. Good croppers produced 

 as many as 18 flowers for a cutting period of ten months. 



Fuel used in the greenhouse boilers of the North 

 Pacific States is mainly fir cordwood, for which an average 

 price of about $4.50 per cord is being paid. Coal from 

 local mines costs from S4.50 to S6.00 per ton, but is of a 

 very poor grade, while good bituminous coal is selHng 

 from S8.00 to Si 0.00 per ton. 



The leading varieties in red colors now grown are 

 Victory and Herald, the former being closely followed by 

 Champion. In white. White Enchantress and White 



