40 AMERICAN CARNATION CULTURE. 



In cross-fertilization there is union by fission in the germ cell 

 of two varieties, and a different eiitity of life is estaVjlished. There 

 is no difference between self-fertilization, and propagating by cut- 

 tings; they both have the same plasm and spring from the same 

 primordial cell, except homogenity which is lost by the union of 

 diverse sexual forces. Propagating by cuttings is not devitalizing; 

 production by seed is rejuvenating. 



The lack of knowledge of a carnation's nature has sent many 

 good varieties early to the necropolis of extinct kinds. Buttercup 

 \Yas obtained by Chas. Starr from La Puritie, fertilized wnth the 

 pollen of Astoria. The first carnation born in America by arti- 

 ficial cross fertilizaiion is still cultivated. 



Dailledouze, Ward, Weber, and others say they now succeed 

 fairly with Buttercup when grown through the summer under 

 glass. If summer glass meets the erratic wants of capricious But- 

 tercup, it will have found De Soto's fountain of perpetual youth, 

 and its bewitching wealth of colors will perpetuate the name of 

 Starr longer than the marble slab above his grave at Avondale. 



The vigor of a variety can be maintained indefinitely by 

 careful culture, but new kinds will relegate them in the race of 

 evolution. 



CUTTINGS. 



Successful carnation growing starts with the proper selection 

 and treatment of cuttings. To secure vigor and avoid deterioration 

 of plants and flowers, it is of the very first importance to begin 

 with an absolutely healthy cutting. There is some difference of 

 opinion among growers as to the part of the plant from which cut- 

 tings should be taken. In a cutting is hidden the life forces of its 

 parent plant, its merits and demerits, its weakness and its vigor; life 

 in a cutting can raise no higher than its fountain, but may grade 

 down, and emphasize its parents defects at the time it was taken 

 from the parent stem. In this lies all there is in carnations run- 

 ning out. The only question to consider is the health of the crop, 

 and not the dogma of an^^ grower. Cuttings should be taken from 

 stock that has not been over forced, or fertilized. Cuttings four 

 inches long taken as side shoots from flowering canes make good 



