Raising Carnations from Seed 



bered for a second year's trial ; and of this number about one-fourth are 

 selected for trial a third year. However, the weeding-out process is some- 

 times much faster. Of our 1899 seedlings, only one variety was left from 

 the second year's trial. One year is not so productive of results as another. 



The growing of new varieties, in the natural way of crossing and hybrid- 

 izing, is a very interesting and fascinating work. It needs the aid of culture. 

 Without this great stimulating help, our varieties would revert gradually to 

 the primitive pink of a thousand years ago as rapidly as they have advanced 

 at the present time. 



Selection of the parent flower is largely based on calculation ; but 

 nature, with all its hereditary power, is a curb, holding fast to the stages of 

 the evolution in the past, and thus making results very uncertain, dis- 

 appointing, and almost a game of chance. If from thousands of seedlings, 

 after three years' trial and weeding out, we return two or three varieties 

 better than existing ones, we are well pleased with the results. 



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