126 IN TEXAS AND THE SOUTH 



and in the small elevated scetions the dillerenee in soil, 

 humidity, or preeipitation are not extreme; but wlien we 

 come to the Rocky Mountains we find a territory over 1500 

 miles long from north to south, and averaging 500 miles 

 in width, with very few points less than 4000 ft. above the 

 sea. The air is dry, the rainfall meager, and the sunlight 

 briUiant. In short, the whole region is arid, and ordinary 

 farm crops cannot be produced without artificial irrigation. 

 It is almost impossible to convey by words an adequate 

 idea of the drying effect of the air of this region. The 

 annual rainfall here averages about ten to twelve inches, 

 while the rainfall in Massachusetts or in Indiana is four 

 times that. 



In regard to varieties, at one time the Lawson type 

 seemed to be almost ideal; later on Enchantress and its 

 sports were easily the best grower-s. White Enchantress 

 is still the leading white by a large majority; Enchantress 

 Supreme is giving an excellent account of itself, and is very 

 satisfactory where grown. Other varieties cultivated in 

 large quantity are Beacon, \\ ard and Gloriosa. Additions 

 to this number could be made, but these are the sorts that 

 stand out prominently. 



TEXAS AND THE SOUTH 



When florists of Texas and the South undertake to 

 grow Carnations, many of them start out with a degree of 

 doubt as to their ultimate success, and not with that 

 optimistic buoyant feeling that they would have with other 

 stock that they were more sure of, as being natural to 

 Southern climates. Particularly is this true as the Gulf 

 Coast is approached, for indeed the South cannot be reckoned 

 with as a land of one climate or condition, and is more 



