138 AMERICAN CARNATION CULTURE. 



and argillaceous soils, recovered quickly and without damage 

 from exhausting dryness, revolted at manure foods, loved only 

 the chemical elements in the soil, were hardy above zero, and 

 florescent at 40 degrees night heat. They were wonderfully 

 productive of bloom, fifty buds and blooms often being counted 

 at a time on good specimens. The relative length of their 

 stamens and pistils indicated a pendulous flower and plant of 

 sprawling habit. Their flowers averaged twenty full petals, were 

 fertile in seeds, beautifully fringed and emitting a strong exhila- 

 rating clove fragrance. 



Lawson, Roosevelt and Novelty are well defined types of a 

 new species of carnations. I will epitomize some of the distinctive 

 features of Lawson published by its originator in the Florists' 

 Excha7ige. 



"Cuttings struck in ^larch are best for early blooming; 

 in April tor later blooming. Blooms bleach in the sun, must 

 be shaded earl}^ and deepened as season advances; must be 

 kept in a night temperature of 55 degrees to keep from bursting 

 its calyx; cuttings must be carried forward into 4-inch pots, no 

 check permitted to its growth, and should be mulched with pul- 

 verized sheep manure every two weeks from November to April." 



This evolved type of carnations will grow 4 feet high and 

 support immense flowers 4 inches in diameter on great stiff stems 

 3 feet long, which have monstrous soft succulent nodes, sparce 

 foliage consisting of broad, thick, fleshy leaves. These plants have 

 large fibrous roots, are gross feeders on humus, demand much 

 water, circulating an immense volume of vegetable blood, and re- 

 quire a night temperature of 55 degrees, which is equal to an an- 

 nual average of 75 degrees, within 5 degrees of that of the equa- 

 tor; they cannot recover from a drouth. If their growth is arrested 

 their tide of vitality is never fully resumed. 



Isotherms are nature's imperious method for differentiating the 

 Flora of the world into Orders, Genera and Species. Forty years 

 of artificial heat in winter has evolved a new species of carnation, 

 modified its esoteric nature to require more moisture, different 

 food, higher heat, a tropical vitality and a larger structure. 



