10 AMERICAN CARNATION CULTURE. 



flowers for private use and incidentally local sales. The superin- 

 tendent estimates that the total sales, or output from the glass con- 

 sidered, amounts to 22,500,000 dollars yearly. The item of roses, 

 in this aggregate, amounts to 6,000,000 dollars; carnation flowers, 

 4,000,000 dollars annually; and the number of carnation flowers 

 sold equals the number of roses. A correspondent writes that 

 3,000,000 carnations are planted in the field this spring (1901) 

 tributary to the Chicago market. 



There are two establishments, each with a quarter of a 

 million feet of glass, devoted largely to carnations. They each 

 plant nearly twelve acres in the field, and house two hundred and 

 fifty thousand plants in the fall. Millions of dollars are now in- 

 vested in growing carnations. 



The first carnation plant sold in America was in March, 1864. 

 What an amazing development in a humble industry in less than 

 forty years. The end is not yet. The carnation crosses the thresh- 

 old of the 20th century with queenlier step, greater grace, and 

 sublimer beauty than ever before. 



Dianthus is the coming flower. Its acclaims for the Throne of 

 Flora is echoing in the tomorrows Dianthus is embodied evolu- 

 tion. It contains imprisoned with its mystic life-force the power of 

 marvelous evolvement, the prophecy of untold progress. It 

 started on its triumphant march a petty plant, with five little 

 flower leaves, glued to the grimy earth from which it sprang; now 

 fifty dawn-lit, iridescent petals nestle around its anthers and snare 

 the admiration of the world with the witcheries of their colors. 

 It has kept abreast with the progress of the ages, and is responsive 

 to the magic touch of the florist's art. The carnation will live and 

 grow in public esteem as long as men love the perfume of spices, 

 pay homage at the gates of grace, and bow at the shrine of beauty. 



In this work the amateur will find a guide for his efforts; the 

 inexperienced carnation grower, directions for success; the practic- 

 al cultivator, sufficient to interest him; the future historian of 

 Dianthus, facts rescued from oblivion; and the vegetable phys- 

 iologist, a philosophy close along the lines of plant life. 



