CARNATION 



CARNATION 



671 



815. Carnation flower showing a 

 well-shaped calyx that will seldom 

 burst. 



the calyx may usually be traced to either irregular tem- 

 perature or to overdoses of feeding. Any point between 

 48 and 52 will prove a satisfactory night temperature 

 for most varieties, providing it is evenly maintained. 

 The temperature should be 10 higher during the day. 

 Care should also be exercised, when building, in plac- 

 ing the ventilators, 

 so that the atmos- 

 phere in the house 

 may be changed 

 without causing cold 

 drafts to strike the 

 plants. By placing 

 the ventilators alter- 

 nately on both sides 

 of the ridge, this may 

 be accomplished. The 

 side ventilators are 

 used only during 

 mild weather. 



The modern type of 

 carnation house runs 

 east and west, is of 

 even span and is 30 

 feet or more in width, 

 having ventilators on 

 both sides of the 

 ridge and in the side 

 walls, if houses are 

 detached. Many 

 ranges are connected 

 by gutters 6 feet or 

 more from the 

 ground. When econ- 

 omy in ground is necessary, this is a good plan, but 

 such ranges always contain some benches inferior for 

 growing stock on account of the shade cast by gutters. 

 The single detached house is ideal. See Greenhouse. 



Varieties. 



The leading varieties in cultivation in this country at this time 

 are White: White Perfection, White Enchantress, White Won- 

 der, Shasta, Matchless. Flesh-Pink: Enchantress, Pink Delight, 

 Mayday, Pres. Valentine. Rose-Pink: Rose-Pink Enchantress, 

 Dorothy Gordon, Gloriosa, Mrs. C. W. Ward, Philadelphia Pink. 

 Dark Pink: Rosette, Washington, Peerless Pink, Northport. 

 Scarlet: Beacon, Victory, St. Nicholas, Herald, Commodore. 

 Crimson: Harry Fenn, Octoroon, Pocahontas. Yellow: Yellow 

 Prince, Yellowstone. White Variegated: Benora, Mrs. B. P. 

 Cheney. Any other color: Gorgeous, Rainbow. New varieties are 

 being registered with the American Carnation Society at the rate 

 of about twenty-five each year. Few varieties remain in cultivation 

 longer than ten years, so that the list changes continually. 



Diseases. 



Stemrot (Rhizoctonia) is the common wet stemrot which does 

 perhaps more damage than all the other diseases combined, and it 

 is also more difficult to control than 

 any of the others. Its presence does not 

 manifest itself until its damage is 

 wrought, and the plant is seen to wilt 

 and die. The cause of the disease is a 

 fungus which exists in the soil, and 

 which will lie dormant in the soil for 

 several years if there are no plants to 

 attack. Hence no carnations should be 

 planted for several years in soil which 

 is known to have this fungus present. 



Species of Fusarium cause a slow 

 rot of the heart of the plant; the treat- 

 ment is same as above. 



Carnation-rust ( Uromyces caryophyl- 

 linus) is more common than stemrot, 

 but not nearly so destructive. A slight 

 swelling of the outer tissue of the leaf 

 is the first sign of its presence. Later on 

 this bursts open, releasing a brown- 

 colored powdery substance, comprising 

 the spores by which the fungus is pro- 

 pagated. Keeping the foliage dry and 

 the atmosphere buoyant and bracing 

 will prevent the appearance of this dis- 

 ease. Spraying with bordeaux mixture 

 has been found effective in combating 

 this disease after it has gained a foot- 

 hold. 



Fairy-ring (Heterosporium echinula- 

 tum} is perhaps the most destructive of 



the spot diseases. It is brought on by a humid or foul atmos- 

 phere, and must be fought with remedies which will produce the 

 opposite in atmospheric condition. Bordeaux is the standard 

 remedy for all spot diseases. 



Bench rot may be caused by any one of a number of organisms 

 attacking the ends of the cuttings in the propagating-bench. It 

 is frequently a very serious disease. The fungi most frequently 

 causing the trouble are in the sand and under the ideal conditions 

 of temperature and 

 moisture of the propa- 

 gating-bench spread 

 very rapidly. The use 

 of clean sand, free from 

 all organic matter, and 

 the securing of new 

 sand for each lot of cut- 

 tings and cleanliness in 

 the propagating - house 

 will help to control this 

 trouble. 



Insect pests. 



A green plant-louse 

 (Myzus persicss) is fre- 

 quently troublesome on 

 carnations. It also at- 

 tacks a large number 

 of greenhouse and gar- 

 den plants as well as 

 several fruit trees. Nic- 

 otine applied in one of 

 the many forms will 

 destroy it. Spraying 

 and vaporizing are both 



817. Carnation flower Pink Delight, 

 showing nearly entire-edged petals. 



employed successfully as preventives of the attacks of aphids. 



Thrips (Heliothrips hasmorrhoidalis) are equally destructive and 

 more difficult to control. The same treatment as for aphis is sug- 

 gested. Sweetened paris green used as a spray is also effective 

 (three gallons of water; two pounds of brown sugar; two table- 

 spoonfuls paris green). 



The punctures made by thrips and plant-lice cause yellowish 

 spots on the leaves, a diseased condition known as stigmanose. 



Red-spider (Tetranychus bimaculatus) is found mostly where 

 plants grow near steam-pipes, where ventilation is poor, or in 

 houses kept top dry. Persistent syringing with water will usually 

 destroy them if the spray is applied to the under surface. Use 

 much force and little water to avoid drenching the beds. Sulfur 

 as a dust or in water will also destroy them. 



The carnation mite (Pediculopsis graminum) injures the buds by 

 transmitting the spores of a fungus (Sporotrichum pose) which 

 causes them to decay. The injured buds are easily recognized and 

 should be promptly gathered and burned to prevent further spread 

 of the trouble. 



Raising new varieties. 



It is a long way from the undeveloped five-petaled 

 carnation (Fig. 813) of early days to the perfectly 

 formed full bloom of today. This filling out of the 

 bloom has evolved gradually, and has been assisted 

 by cross-fertilization and selection by the carnation- 

 breeders through the many years in which the flower 

 has been cultivated. This crossing, which has been the 

 means of perfecting the American strain of the perpet- 

 ual-flowering carnation, has been prosecuted continu- 

 ously ever since the arrival of the first plants in this 

 country. Many men have found both pleasure and 

 profit in the work, and those 

 with scientific inclination will 

 find no subject more inter- 

 esting. Not only have the 

 blooms become larger, but 

 the color has varied widely, 

 the "substance" has been 

 much improved, the calyx 

 has been developed for non- 

 bursting (Figs. 814, 815), 

 the keeping qualities of the 

 flowers have been improved, 

 and the stems have been 

 lengthened. 



The operation of pollinat- 

 ing the bloom, or transferring 

 the pollen from one flower to 

 the stigma of another, is a 

 simple matter, and is per- 

 haps of less importance than 

 other parts of the work of 

 producing desirable new 

 varieties. 



816. Cross-section of carnation flower showing 

 reproductive organs. 



