108 AMERICAN CARNATION CULTURE. 



nating the calyx and petal differences. The time is coming when a 

 bursted carnation will be regarded as anomalous. Ten out of the 

 thirty-six new carnations of 1901, the originators assert, never 

 burst their calyxes. 



From a strictly botanical point of view the double flowering 

 carnation is itself a nutrient disease. It is the product of domesti- 

 cation, enforced selection, high culture and stimulating fertiliza- 

 tion. This is what has doubled its corolla, metamorphosed its 

 stamins into petals, aborted its organs of generation, and largely 

 barrened it of the powers of reproduction. Some varieties of 

 carnations have only sexual vestiges, others have stamins- and no 

 stigma, others stigma and no stamins. Yet it is a disease the 

 world adores. Like immortality, if untrue, is still a sweet delusive 

 dream that men hug fondly to their hearts. 



BARREN CARNATIONS. 



Very robust and vigorous growing carnations will sometimes 

 refuse to bloom, or what few flowers they do afford are small and 

 indifferent. Such carnations are diseased, there is a loss of equi- 

 librium between their absorbing and exhaling forces, the vegeta- 

 tive activies of the plants have extinguished their reproductive 

 natures, a fat animal has little desire, and less^ ability to repro- 

 duce itself. Its life forces are concerned in manufacturing fat 

 which supplants the inclination to procreate. Carnation plants that 

 loose this equipoise have always fat or overgrown vegetative 

 organs and functions, and are comparatively worthless, the coun- 

 terpoise equilibrium cannot be re-established during their short 

 lives. It is caused by the continued use of rich stimulating 

 nutrients. 



COHERING PETALS. 



Some varieties of carnations, at times, exude a sticky sub- 

 stance in their buds which causes the petals to adhere to each 

 other, the bud to become deformed, and the flower worthless. 



This is caused by deranged nutritive functions of the plant, 

 from some unhealthy food element in the soil. Some ascribe the 

 cause to extremes of heat between day and night temperatures, 



