XXVIII.] HISTORICAL REVIEW. 453 



that the production of carnation blooms has increased 

 50 per cent during the past year." 



Now, the carnation has been cultivated for several 

 centuries, and the history of it must afford some data 

 to illustrate the laws of its variation and evolution, 

 and to lead us aright in our endeavors for the future. 

 My wish in this discussion, therefore, is not only to 

 discover what hope there may be for the realization 

 of Mr. Thorpe's prophecy, but also to draw from 

 the past some hints which shall be of use for the 

 present. 



It is important to notice, at the outset, that Mr. 

 Thorpe's ideal flower differs from those already in 

 existence only in size of bloom, stem and leaves. Our 

 first endeavor must be to determine the extent of 

 variability which the carnation has shown, and then 

 to enquire how near to this new standard varieties 

 have already approached. 



At every point in the history of the carnation, we 

 are impressed with the wonderful variability of the 

 species. In 1597, Gerarde declared that there were 

 so many kinds of pinks, most of which appear to 

 have been carnations, "that a great and large vol- 

 ume would not suffice to write of every one at large 

 in particular." In 1702, John Ray catalogued three 

 hundred and sixty distinct kinds. At one of the 

 weekly shows of the Massachusetts Horticultural So- 

 ciety in 1830, "one hundred different varieties of 

 carnation were exhibited."* And in recent years, 

 Vilmorin t declares that some dealers offer as many 

 as two thousand kinds. Now these varieties differ 



*mst. Mass. Hort. Soc. 223. 

 tFleurs de Pleine Terre, 762 



