Carnation Culture in Canada 



think it advisable to allow the shade to remain on too long, about two 

 weeks at most being sufficient. 



JOHN H. DUNLOP 



The subject of this sketch was born in New York City on January 7, 1855. 

 He comes of Irish parentage. When he was seven years of age his parents 

 removed to Toronto, Ont., where, while yet a lad, he spent two years in the book 

 business, afterward returning - to New York, where he worked for some time as 

 a carpenter. In 1875 he returned to and finally settled in Toronto, leasing a news- 

 stand and telegraph office from the Queen's Hotel. Up to this period he pos- 

 sessed no practical knowledge of floriculture, but during quiet afternoons such 

 books and papers as gave any instruction on the subject, and upon rose grow- 

 ing in particular, were eagerly studied 



Having become acquainted with the 

 theory of rose growing, he made his 

 first venture as a florist by building a 

 modest structure, of a size 6x12 feet, in 

 1880. This was doubled during the fol- 

 lowing year, and the year thereafter a 

 house, 8x50 feet, was built. This again, 

 the succeeding year, gave place to a more 

 modern structure, 12x50 feet, of the 

 type known as the three-quarter span 

 house. As the demand for choice roses 

 was increasing, a large piece of ground 

 was purchased on Lansdowne Avenue, 

 near Bloor Street, where his present es- 

 tablishment now stands. 



In 1885 Mr. Dunlop first forced the lily of 

 the valley, which was considered quite a feat 

 at that time. He also was the first to adopt 

 the use of raised benches for the winter 

 forcing of roses, which system has now su- 

 perseded the old solid bed. 



Mr. Dunlop has always taken a lively 

 interest in carnations, testing all the new 

 varieties that are exhibited at the annual 

 conventions of the American Carnation 



Society. The yearly display of carnations at Toronto is due to Mr. Dunlop's 

 initiative. He is an active member of the American Carnation Society, and has 

 been president of the Canadian Horticultural Society, as well as its first secretary. 

 He has been a member of the Society of American Florists for a number of years, 

 and has served upon its Executive Committee. He has also acted as president of 

 the Toronto Gardeners and Florists' Association, and it was due to his call for a 

 meeting that the association was formed. 



288 



JOHN H. DUNLOP 



