CHAPTER XV. 



THE CARNATION. 



California has always done creditable work with the carnation, 

 although the growing of it 'has been largely restricted to the coast 

 region from San Francisco southward, where soil <and temperatures 

 seem best to meet its requirements as an open-air flower. It has 

 naturally seemed to associate itself closely with popular seaside resorts 

 both the sand and the moist summer air being apparently to its 

 liking, while the popularity of the flower, for its beauty and its delicious 

 perfume, appealed strongly to coast resort-managers as an added at- 

 tractiveness of their places to those who joy to linger by sunset seas. 

 But while these natural and commercial qualities have linked the fame 

 of the carnation with that of the coast, amateurs in other parts of the 

 state can certainly enjoy it if they will make proper effort to adapt 

 their cultures to its requirements. 



Localities which figure most prominently in the California history 

 of the carnation are Coronado and Redondo beaches, Santa Monica and 

 Santa Cruz, while San Francisco won carnation fame through the 

 achievement of Mr. J. H. Sievers who, in February, 1899, won the 

 highest award by the National Carnation Society at its show 'held in 

 Philadelphia. Mr. Sievers' new seedling, which he named "Hannah 

 Hobart," was in competition with" and vanquished "Mrs. Lawson" for 

 the full stock of which $30,000 had been paid the year before, when it 

 was the winner of the highest award. The California flower had of 

 course a serious handicap in distance, time and the risks of carriage. 

 The flowers went by express. Fifty specimens were required by the 

 rules. Each flower was placed in a separate glass tube. The tube was 

 fastened into a tin case and filled with water. The water was not 

 changed in transit nor for the exhibition. Mr. Sievers preferred to use 

 the California water because he was afraid of a strange water and 

 did not know how it might affect the flowers. The California flower 

 scored 86 out of a possible 100 points and was declared a winner. "Mrs. 

 Lawson" was thus beaten by a flower grown 3000 miles away. It was 

 probably the most dramatic event of American floriculture and con- 

 tributed much to the prestige of California. Fortunately enduring 

 hatred was not engendered between these two pink beauties. They 

 stand side by side in the lists of some California commercial propa- 

 gators. 



Soils. Although carnations are worth growing on rather a heavy 

 soil, and some kinds seem to prefer it, the rule is for light loams, even 

 sandy, if not in a place where water stands and if the soil is made 



