The Ideal Carnation 



tion as there is in favor of the perfectly formal flower of the English grower. 

 The ragged bloom gives pleasure to many who purchase it, and the formal 

 flower gives pleasure as well, and who is to say that either shall be denied to 

 the lover of flowers ? 



If I were asked to describe the perfect carnation I would reply that 

 there could be perfect carnations of several different classes. For instance, 

 there could be a shell-petaled bloom that would closely approach perfection ; 

 there could also be a semi-shell-petaled flower that would be a perfect one of 

 its class ; and then, again, there could be flowers the petals of which were 

 heavily laced, which could also be considered the perfection of their type. 



I will then take the ground that no single form of carnation can be ad- 

 judged as perfect or ideal ; but that many variations in type may be success- 

 fully grown and will please a wider range of people than if one formal type 

 be produced. This does not, however, prevent the fixing of a scale of virtues 

 which all good carnations should possess. These necessary attributes might 

 be stated as Color, Fragrance, Substance, Form, Habit ,and General Appear- 

 ance when the blooms are massed. 



COLOR I should place at the head of the three most important qualities 

 (FRAGRANCE and SUBSTANCE being the remaining two), and it should be of 

 a pure, clear, pleasing tone, or combination of tones. At this date no dull or 

 impure tints should be tolerated, and, above all, the tints should be durable and 

 retain their pleasing tones long after the blooms are cut. 



FRAGRANCE I consider one of the cardinal virtues of the carnation, for 

 throughout its entire history its fragrance has been noted as one of its chief 

 attractions. A carnation without fragrance always seems to me like the 

 comb without the honey. 



SUBSTANCE stands on an even footing with fragrance and color, for 

 without substance the colors fade, the blooms quickly wither and die and 

 pass away like a myth. Substance contributes so much to form and durabil- 

 ity of the flower that no grower of fine carnations can afford to give it other 

 than an important place in his scale of virtues. 



FORM and HABIT and GENERAL APPEARANCE stand relatively second in 

 importance to color, fragrance and substance, though they are all so essential 

 that none can be properly omitted in judging the merits of any carnation. 



FORM may vary to a considerable extent and be of several different types, 

 such as the shell-petaled bloom of the English garden, the serrated-petaled 

 flower of our American varieties, or the highly laced, or feathered-petaled 

 blossom of the Marguerite type. The general contour of the bloom should 

 verge toward the symmetrical ; the guard petals should be broad, stand well 



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