Habit Changed by Method of Propagation. 141 
strains can, indeed, be raised from one parent by 
selecting bud variations. 
All these facts are not merely of scientific in- 
terest, but may be turned to practical utility by 
intelligent and observant propagators. In the early 
days of Carnation culture in America cuttings were 
taken from the base of the plant, all the rest being 
retained for the production of flowers. Where this 
practice was continued over a number of years the 
plants degenerated to leafy flowerless bushes. At 
the present time the basal shoots are disregarded as 
well as those towards the top of the flowering stem. 
Cuttings are now selected from the middle of the 
flowering stem by the growers, and the result is 
healthy plants of vigorous growth, producing an 
abundance of bloom, carried on long stems. The 
cuttings are considered fit for removal from the 
plants and in a suitable stage of maturity for root- 
ing when the flower buds are nearly on the point of 
expansion. Some varieties, however, are so late in 
developing suitable wood for propagation, that the 
flower buds have to be removed to encourage the 
growth of leafy shoots for cuttings. 
The leafy and flowerless condition of the 
American Carnation is by no means of rare oc- 
currence, for the inexperienced and those who are 
unaware of this liability of the plants to degenerate, 
propagate these vigorous looking plants until their 
stock becomes practically worthless. In the early 
days of Lizzie McGowan, a grower, thinking he had 
discovered a vigorous form of the variety 
naturally secured all the cuttings he could get until 
he had a houseful, and when rooted they grew into 
vigorous branching plants like the parent, but they 
failed to bloom. More recently another grower had 
a similar experience with a variety of more recent 
origin. The flower stalks ran up to a height of 
18in. and then produced leafy shoots of similar 
character to the first but no flower buds. This 1s 
an experience which can only happen to the grower 
who has recently taken up the cultivation of Carna- 
tions, and has not previously made _ himself 
acquainted with the peculiarities of this particular 
flower. In any large batch of plants one or more 
individuals of this strong growing leafy character 
may make their appearance, and the propagator is 
tempted to avail himself of what appears to be a 
fine lot of healthy cuttings, but he should be 
warned to let them severely alone. 
