FROM ALEGATiERE TO STARR. 19 



M. Schmitt, a distinguished horticulturist of lyyons, followed 

 M. Dalmias, and obtained several fine varieties like Arc en eiel, 

 and Etolle Polaire, which were cultivated for several years, but 

 do not now exist, having been superseded by better kinds. In 

 1850, a desease having destroyed his collection, M. Schmitt aban- 

 doned their culture. Soon after, Alphonso Alegatiere undertook 

 the hybridization of carnations, and in a short time obtained great 

 success, dotting that series with a great many varieties, all par- 

 ticularly dwarf and obtained a very great improvement by creat- 

 ing those with stiff lower stems, about 1856. We can say Alega- 

 tiere originated a new species. He also upset the old system of 

 propagating by layering and has proved that propagation by cut- 

 tings is the best and most reasonable method, produces the best 

 plants and thus justified my saying that layering is the infancy of 

 the horticultural art. He also demonstrated that nothing is 

 easier than propagating carnations by cuttings, and the best time 

 to strike them is in January and February, and the best mode is 

 to put them in a bench of fine sand, in a span roof house, without 

 bell glasses, the benches underneath being heated by hot water 

 pipes, to 60 or 70 degrees, and the cuttings will strike root in from 

 three to four weeks. The sand must be kept damp and the cut- 

 ting syringed every day. They can be placed out in April or May, 

 and will make fine plants to bloom in Autumn." 



Jene Sisley, 

 Feb., 1886. Monplaiser, Lyons, France. 



Several species of the pink family of plants grew wild along 

 the Mediterranean shores and in southern Europe, that had been 

 domesticated and cultivated for the beauty of their flowers. Their 

 strains, from this cause, became much improved. Linnaeus, the 

 great naturalist, in the first of the 19th century described the male 

 and female organs of plants and the fertilizing properties of the 

 pollen. This discovery led to the possibility of fecundation of 

 plants being accomplished by artificial means. The universal 

 botanical interest Linnaeus awakened led the curious and ingenious 

 to experimenting with artificial poUenization. Hybridization was 

 accomplished, and cross fertilization became common with many 

 species of plants. 



It is evident that Atim was the fir.st recorded name of the per- 

 petual blooming carnations, the Adam of the race. But a new 

 species does not spring at once into existence full armored, booted 



