Traits and Peculiarities 



example. When first sent out the success in the culture of this carnation 

 was little more than nominal. The plants of it yielded but comparatively few 

 flowers, and a very large proportion of these burst the calyx. It improved 

 in profusion of bloom, size of flower, and strength of stem, for several years 

 after its introduction, and, for a period, was one of the most valuable and 

 popular carnations grown. Another example of this type of improvement is 

 the well-known General Maceo. The original plant apparently possessed 

 a weak constitution, and was left for some time in the field, as it was not 

 considered to have sufficient merit to warrant a trial. It was at the last 

 moment dug out of a frozen field, because of the depth of the color of the 

 flowers, and the fact that they lasted an unusual length of time after open- 

 ing fully. The plants propagated from the seed parent showed a sensible 

 increase in strength and constitution, and further improvement followed the 

 subsequent propagations. The variety also developed great freedom of 

 flowering, and, probably, was the most profuse blooming carnation that had 

 been introduced to American culture for a long period of time. 



Some varieties are also particularly affected as to the period of flower- 

 ing by the time at which the cuttings are taken for propagation. Thus, late- 

 blooming kinds, such as Prosperity, Buttercup, Mme! Diaz Albertini, and 

 others of that type, may be developed into early bloomers by propagating 

 very early in the season, as early even as November and December, and 

 stopping the plants but once or twice at the most. Such varieties as show a 

 habit and disposition similar to those of Prosperity, should not be stopped 

 after the month of July. A good example of the effect of early and late prop- 

 agation, connected with early and late stopping, was given by a house of 

 Prosperity grown this year, 1903. The plants that were propagated in Decem- 

 ber, and planted out from four-inch pots about the middle of April, stopped 

 once after planting out, and lifted and planted upon the benches about the 

 middle of July, came into full flower in the early part of October ; while, upon 

 another bench, where the plants were propagated the latter part of Febru- 

 ary, set out from two-inch pots at the same period as the earlier struck stock, 

 but cut back once more and planted upon the benches at the same time, did 

 not produce any blooms until Christmas, and even later; while the same 

 plants which were stopped but once after planting came into flower a full 

 month earlier. 



Occasionally, a variety will show some peculiarity in bud development, 

 such as opening the flower on one side only, under certain treatment. Thus, 

 William Scott, when too highly fed with manures excessively rich in nitro- 

 gen and potash, failed to open the blooms, the petals having cohered at the 



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