CHAPTER X 



THE NEW CARNATION-GROWING 



IT is not to the summer flower-garden, but to the winter 

 greenhouse that we must look for the latest developments 

 in Carnation-growing. 



The Carnation tends more and more to become an 

 indoor plant, and even for summer bloom glass is utilized 

 much more extensively than was the case in years gone 

 by. The blame for this and blame there is with respect 

 to the border varieties, for the thing is evil must be laid 

 at the door of the exhibition judge. He has raised his 

 standard until it is almost impossible to win important 

 prizes with outdoor flowers. Nominally this need not 

 have any influence on the amateur who grows Carnations 

 for garden adornment, and neither knows nor cares any- 

 thing about the shows. But in reality it affects him 

 closely, because the varieties which are distributed 

 by florists take their stamp much more from the require- 

 ments of the exhibitor than those of the gardener. So 

 strongly does this operate, that the Carnation-lover 

 who buys for garden and for garden alone is compelled 

 to use the utmost circumspection in making his choice of 

 varieties ; otherwise he finds himself burdened with sorts 

 which, while capable of producing a few very refined 

 flowers under special treatment, entirely lack the vigour 

 of constitution and freedom of blooming which are neces- 

 sary in a good garden Carnation. Of that more anon. 



