140 AMERICAN CARNATION CULTURE. 



Dianthus superba embraces both structural and vital differ- 

 ence from Dianthus semperflorens. A new species is not per- 

 manent unless the conditions are persistent through which it was 

 evolved. Humanity gravitates towards the gutter which civiliz- 

 ing forces must ever antagonize. An evolved species of the 

 vegetable kingdom is ever gravitating towards ancestral types un- 

 less counterpoised by selection and culture. Accept or reject the 

 assumption of a new species of carnations, the fact remains, a 

 different treatment is already recognized for a carnation blowing a 

 4-inch corolla on a 3-foot stem and one blooming a 2 -inch flower 

 without a stem. Nature asserts with the majesty of command, a 

 different culture for the two varieties, which would not occur if 

 there were not a different vitality to culture. The cultivation 

 of neither kind will ever be abandoned. They fill different 

 niches in the Temple of Flora, but for scientific and commer- 

 cial purposes the two species should not be confounded. At present 

 a line, though tortuous and vague, would be: plants producing 

 flowers under 3 inches in diameter retain their present name, 

 Dianthus semperflorens', and plants producing flowers 3 inches 

 and over, normally receive the name, Dianthus superba. 



This would recognize a botanical fact, make market reports 

 intelligent, set the pace for prices, suggest cultural treatment, 

 classify excellence and dignify the new origination with the as- 

 sumption of an appropriate name, hallowed with antiquity and 

 sanctioned by the centuries. 



There were 36 new varieties of carnations registered and 

 introduced or disseminated in 1901. Giving the originator's de- 

 scription: six of these will blow 4-inch flowers; 20 bear flowers 3 

 inches and under; the calyxes of ten never burst. This list is 

 composed of 17 pink, 10 white, 5 scarlet, 2 yellow- variegated , i 

 white- variegated and i crimson. Of these, 7 originated in New 

 York, 7 in Pennsylvania, 4 in Illinois, 4 in Rhode Island, 4 in 

 Massachusetts, 4 in Indiana, 2 in Maryland, 2 in California, i in 

 New Jersey and i in Ohio. More new carnations have originated 

 in Pennsylvania than in any other state; nearly one hundred 

 varieties came from the vicinity of Kennett Square. None of this 



