PROFITS 53 



of opinion that the majority favored planting in the follow- 

 ing proportions : 



White Carnations 36% 



Light Pink 35% 



Dark Pink 17% 



Scarlet 12% 



This is a valuable index to the beginner in commercial 

 Carnation cultivation. Possibly it would be wiser, in view 

 of the increasing demand for white Carnations for Mother's 

 Day each year (second Sunday in May), to plant more of 

 these. 



At the same time, so close has been the study of the 

 characteristics of varieties by some growers, that they 

 have eliminated all but one or two at the most. These 

 they specialize in, and grow them better than any other 

 competitor can. 



The least profitable hmit at which a Carnation plant 

 can be grown varies according to the quality and character 

 of the blooms, but sixteen flowers per plant is a good middle 

 figure, and indeed the consensus of opinions collected by 

 us showed that 18 3/2 blooms per plant is frequently expected, 

 and to be lucrative the wholesale selhng price should be 

 37^c. per bloom. Unfortunately, half this price has fre- 

 quently to be accepted nowadays; but, on the whole, the 

 yearly average runs at 2c. per bloom at wholesale. Some 

 growers dispose of their blooms the year round at a level 

 contract price arranged on this basis. In addition, there 

 is the sale (if any) of cuttings or plants to be taken into 

 the reckoning as well as the cut blooms, and of any other 

 stock or side or catch crop that may be grown. The 

 standard price of cuttings of novelties is $12 per 100, $100 

 per 1000; while "rhe price of other varieties varies according 

 to how recently they may have been introduced to com- 

 merce. In the Spring of 1915 the prices for Champion, 



