History of the Development of the Carnation 



Mr. W. R.-Shelmire, of Avondale, Pa., also contributed a number of 

 valuable varieties, among them Eldorado and Caesar. 



In 1890, Air. E. G. Hill became interested in the growing of seedling 

 carnations, through purchasing a number of seedlings from Mr. Dorner. A 

 number of these varieties were introduced ; in fact, the following set was 

 sent out : Edna Craig, Fred Dorner, Edwin Lonsdale, Christine, Hoosier, In- 

 diana, Creole, Red Cross, San Mateo, Canada, Cherry Lips, Sea Gull and 

 Ben Hur. Many of these varieties, which were producing extremely fine 

 flowers, were not sufficiently free in bloom to make them a commercial 

 success ; consequently, they have passed out of existence. With the stock 

 purchased from Mr. Dorner as a basis, Mr. Hill began the raising of seed- 

 lings, and in 1896 introduced Triumph, Armazindy, Abundance, together 

 with the variety Jubilee, which was purchased from Mr. John Hartje, of 

 Indianapolis. In 1897, Flora Hill, which was undoubtedly the best of Mr. 

 Hill's productions, and Mrs. McBurney were introduced; in 1898, Painted 

 Lady and Psyche, and in 1899, America. 



Mr. Peter Fisher, of Ellis, Mass., quickly sprang into fame through the 

 raising, and particularly the selling, of the variety which was named Mrs. 

 Thos. W. Lawson, and which was grown in 1895, the variety being the result 

 of a cross between Daybreak and Van Leeuwen. This variety was given a 

 world-wide reputation by its sale to Mr. Thomas W. Lawson, for the seem- 

 ingly fabulous sum of thirty thousand dollars. One-half of this sum is said 

 to have gone to Air. Fisher, and the remaining half to Air. Thomas Galvin, 

 the Boston florist and friend of Mr. Lawson, who negotiated the sale. Others 

 of Mr. Fisher's later productions are, Enchantress and Governor Wolcott. 



Mr. Richard Witterstaetter, of Sedamsville, Ohio, commenced the hy- 

 bridization of carnations in 1890, with Degraw and La Purite as a basis. 

 Mr. Witterstsetter's work has evidently been very carefully done. The 

 varieties introduced by him are few ; namely, Emma Wocher, light pink ; 

 Evelina, white ; Estelle, scarlet ; Enquirer, bright pink, and Adonis. The 

 latter, his most brilliant production, was sold to Messrs. E. G. Hill and 

 Robert Craig, in the year 1901, for the sum of five thousand dollars. 



The author commenced the growing of hybrid carnations in the year 

 1890. The varieties with which he had to work were Wm. Swayne, L. L. 

 Lamborn, Portia, Rosalind, Buttercup, Philadelphia ; and, later on, to this 

 list was added Lizzie McGowan, also Wm. Scott, Richmond, Elizabeth 

 Reynolds and Mme. Diaz Albertini, of the productions of Mr. Frederick 



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