54 JAMESTOWN CONGRESS OF HORTICULTURE 



lion of cut flowers were very small and insignificant and comparatively 

 crude affairs. With the introduction of some of the finer roses, like 

 Perle, Cornelia Cook, Catherine Mermet, Bride and Bridesmaid, a great 

 impetus was given the cut flower industry, and then came the queen of 

 all roses American Beauty. 



I believe that the present up-to-date methods of rose growing had 

 their beginning in the vicinity of Madison, New Jersey. The old pot 

 method was discarded, and roses were grown on shallow benches in 

 light, sunny, airy houses, and the results obtained were exceedingly 

 satisfactory and profitable. Large ranges of rose houses were con- 

 stantly erected in that section, along the line of the Delaware, Lack- 

 awanna and Western Railroad, and at that time Madison, Summit, and 

 other towns in that vicinity were known as the Rose Belt of America ; 

 but since then immense ranges of glass for the cultivation of roses 

 have been erected in so many different localities around New York, 

 Chicago, Boston, and other large cities that no one place in the country 

 can boast of any particular supremacy. 



The same development that occurred in the rose took place in the 

 carnation, but at a considerably later period, and the present fine varie- 

 ties of carnations that are now grown have all been produced within 

 the last decade. First came Mrs. Thomas W. Lawson, which marked 

 an epoch in carnation growing. This variety was the forerunner of 

 such fine varieties as Enchantress, Mrs. M. A. Patten, Beacon, White 

 Perfection, Winsor, etc. The trade was quick to discern that while 

 these improved carnations could be grown in the old-time houses, they 

 could be grown much better in the improved houses that were devoted 

 to rose culture. 



Another flower which has become one of the most important is the 

 violet. In the earlier days violets were grown in cold frames, covered 

 with sash and straw mats ; and, of course, with our severe winters, the 

 supply was small and uncertain. The same improved methods of cul- 

 ture that have taken place with the rose and carnation followed with 

 the violet; and to-day violets are grown in large quantities in light, 

 airy houses entirely under glass a method of culture that fifteen or 

 twenty years ago was unheard and unthought of. The violet business 

 has been largely centralized for many years in the Hudson River valley, 

 especially in the vicinity of Poughkeepsie and Rhinebeck, which has 

 become famous as a violet-growing section, where the variety called 

 Marie Louise is principally grown. Princess, the large single violet, 

 which is not so difficult to grow, has been grown in other sections 

 where Marie Louise has not been grown successfully or profitably. 

 Immense quantities of Princess are grown, especially in the vicinity of 

 Boston, and also in some of the large Canadian centers. 



One of the most phenomenal improvements that have been made in 

 any flower has been made in the chrysanthemum, which has been devel- 

 oped to such an extent that one who knew it twenty-five or thirty years 

 ago would not recognize the immense blooms grown to-day. 



Another very important flower for the florist is the Easter lily, 

 which was grown only in very small quantities until the introduction of 



