VI 

 TREE CARNATIONS 



THE so-called Tree Carnation can be traced back beyond 

 a hundred years, but it does not appear that it underwent 

 improvement until the year 1840, when a French 

 gardener, named Dalmais, raised new varieties ; and once 

 a break was made, by 1846 many sorts were catalogued. 

 These, however, appear to have been tall-growing plants 

 of straggly habit, and therefore of no great value ; but 

 about 1850, M. Alagetiere, another Frenchman, originated 

 a strain possessed of stirFer stems, which proved a vast im- 

 provement. Dwarf forms among these are the progenitors 

 of the splendid varieties that are every year being increased, 

 not only in England, but also in other countries, though 

 it would appear that the United States and Great Britain 

 are in these to have a fight for supremacy. The long 

 stems, one of the chief characteristics of American sorts, 

 are being added by English raisers to the finer formed 

 flowers of this country. Small flowers are being elimi- 

 nated ; and latterly, by judicious intercrossing with the 

 larger self Carnations, the long desiderated question of 

 size has been fairly met. 



Tree, or, as they are being more generally called, 

 Perpetual Carnations, are quite hardy, and during the 

 summer months the plants may safely be grown in the 

 open air, as is the practice on the Continent and America. 

 In Great Britain, or at least the less favoured portions as to 

 climate, it is, however, perhaps best to cultivate the plants 



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