BREVITIES. 149 



There is a tireless strain for large carnations with stiff stems. 

 There is an aesthetic meridian for size somewhere between a 

 species of carnation called micro petalon^ because it requires a 

 microscope to see its petals, and a corolla the size of a sunflower. 

 Good taste draws the line on a three-inch flower on a stem pen- 

 dant with grace. 



In this work, the treatment of the La Puritie type of carnation 

 is chiefly considered. The habits arid culture of a new evolving 

 type of carnation are quite different. The mean annual temperature 

 required by the two species are essentially unlike. Isotherms 

 are nature's sovereign methods for diversifying species. 



It is hard to settle the outlines of a perfect carnation flower. 

 There is an enduring contour of beauty if quixotic taste could 

 reach it. That the centre of the flower should be well built up, 

 approaching a hemisphere with petals moderately fringed and 

 standing at right angles with the stem, seems to meet the present 

 requirement of taste and grace. 



The following scale of points in a carnation flower has been 

 discussed by some men interested in carnations It is immaterial 

 whether their standard of comparison is real or ideal. The signifi- 

 cance of the scale resides in the relative importance of the struc- 

 tural features of a carnation's corolla, not in the opinion of a few 

 or their aspirations for the beautiful according to their pro- 

 crustean standard. 



Color 25 



Size 20 



Calyx 5 



Stem 20 



Substance 10 



Form 15 



Fragrance 5 



Total 100 



