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The Weekly Florists' Review* 



Januaby 30, 1908. 



ture, even after studying the variety 

 from all vantage points? 



The production of fine blooms is a 

 prime requisite and with this alone should 

 the society concern itself, leaving prophe- 

 cies as to the probable future of a vari- 

 ety to individual judgment. 



Just as long as I remain a practical 

 grower of carnations I shall consider the 

 grant of a certificate or medal by the 

 American Carnation Society as the high- 

 est recommendation possible and amply 

 sufficient proof of merit to justify a 



ciety. This should be done for the pur- 

 pose of increasing the number of exhib- 

 its in these classes. The judges may be 

 depended on to properly sift such candi- 

 dates. 



Ezhibiti of Camationi in Poti. 



Eeference has been made annually, 

 since the inception of this society, to the 

 proposed exhibition of carnations in pots. 

 Ex-president Rackham spoke of the mat- 

 ter in his address at Detroit. John Bir- 

 nie made a strong plea for such varieties 



could be sent here for test as to their 

 adaptability to American conditions and 

 markets? Probably some exchange of 

 novelties could be made between growers 

 in the United States and those in Eng- 

 land for this purpose. A great deal of 

 interest is now being taken in American 

 varieties over in England, and the same 

 thing is likely to happen with English 

 varieties in the United States; hence it 

 would be well for the American Carna- 

 tion Society to take the first steps aiming 

 toward cooperation. 



House of Defiance Caroation at Jensen & Dekema's, Chicas[o. 



thorough test and earnest effort to grow 

 the variety as well as it has been grown 

 by the raiser. 



Due R(Cos:nition of Merit. 



However, there is one point in this con- 

 nection which does come within the prov- 

 ince of this society, and ^ that is, the 

 proper recognition of merit which has 

 been abundantly proven. Seven years 

 ago, at Indianapolis, when the fatal ill- 

 ness of the' president, Wm. J. Berter- 

 mann, placed me in the position of acting 

 chairman, I suggested that the society 

 ought to take some action commending 

 the raiser of any oarnation which has 

 proved itself the premier variety of its 

 class for a number of successive years. 

 No attention was given the suggestion at 

 that time, but my opinion has not 

 changed on the subject. I believe that 

 when any variety wins first prize- in any 

 Class A (open to all) section, for three 

 successive years, the raiser of such vari- 

 ety should be granted the soeiety's gold 

 medal, fittingly engraved, as ah award 

 of sterling merit. It is at least a sub- 

 ject worthy of discussion. 



There ought also to be a sweepstakes 

 prize covering Class A (open to all) sec- 

 tions. 



To refer again to the certificate classes, 

 I believe that the entrance fees, in both 

 preliminary and final certificate classes, 

 should be omitted except when such cer- 

 tificate is granted, and that the only re- 

 striction placed on exhibiting in these 

 classes should be membership in the so- 



in his able paper at Toronto last year. 

 Now, to accomplish anything in this line 

 will require a radical step by the society 

 and it may as well be taken at once. 

 Offer a good, substantial prize for the 

 best collection of plants in bloom in pots. 

 To do this, reduce the breadth and scope 

 of Class B, which, as it now stands, tends 

 toward monotony in the exhibition. 



Also, if it were possible to so divide 

 the money devoted to premiums as to ad- 

 mit of it, a certain amount ought to be 

 devoted each year to exhibitions showing 

 the adaptability of the carnation to recep- 

 tion and wedding decorations. Competi- 

 tive contests among Jocal retail men are 

 nqt practicable, but some prominent retail 

 man might be selected to prepare some 

 such exhibit each year, as this would in- 

 terest the public greatly and add to the 

 beauty of the exhibition. 



' English Competition. 



The very valuable papers from foreign 

 carnation growers last year, together with 

 the reports appearing in our trade papers 

 from time to time, indicate the rapid 

 strides being taken by our co-workers in 

 England in the development of the ever- 

 blooming carnation. Such reports should 

 stimulate the activity in America, for we 

 should xetain our supremacy in this line. 



Taking into consideration the formida- 

 ble competition in the securing of new 

 varieties of carnations which the English 

 breeders have now presented, would it 

 not be a good thing to make some ar- 

 rangement whereby new English sorts 



Regiitration of New Varietiei. 



In the matter of the registration of 

 new varieties, the opinion has been ex- 

 pressed by interested members that the 

 society ought to omit all superfluous ver- 

 biage as to whether the new variety is 

 better than others of its kind, and give 

 simply the name, the parentage, the date 

 when the cross was made, and the color. 

 A uniform registration blank should be 

 adopted and this should avoid any ap- 

 pearance of indorsing the good qualities 

 of a new kind. 



At the Chicago convention in 1907 an 

 action was passed authorizing the offer- 

 ing of American Carnation Society cer- 

 tificates at the fall exhibitions in our 

 leading cities, and the appointment of 

 judges for such exhibits. There was a 

 committee appointed with power to act, 

 but the plan never was carried out. This 

 should be taken up and some definite ac- 

 tion taken. The S. A. F. invited the co- 

 operation of our society in the national 

 flower show to be held in Chicago in 

 November of this year, and we should 

 offer our certificate and medals at that 

 great exhibition. 



It is with great pleasure that I look 

 forward to the joint meetings with the 

 American Breeders' Association. I hope 

 and believe that much of benefit to the 

 practical grower may result from the 

 joint discussion on "Carnation Breed- 

 ing." If there is anything tangible as 

 regards Mendel's law in relation to the 

 breeding of carnations, it should be 

 brought out at this time. 



