STANDARD OF POINTS FOR CARNATIONS 201 



given a page and from time to time, beginning with the 

 first bloom produced in the Fall, records are made of the 

 color, size, form, stem, calyx, the growth of the plant or 

 any other point bearing on the value of the variety. It is, 

 of course, essential that these records be absolutely correct, 

 else they will be of no assistance in selecting the varieties 

 for further trial. 



By Midwinter a fairly accurate estimate may be had 

 of the varieties on trial and propagating is again resumed. 

 This time the number of cuttings taken is gauged by the 

 estimate placed on its value. During the third year, in 

 addition to the verification of the second year's records, 

 we add a record of the number of blooms cut, for the 

 purpose of comparison with our records on the standard 

 sorts. Unless a new variety will give a sufficient number 

 of blooms, be they ever so fine, it will not pay the com- 

 mercial grower to plant it. 



STANDARD OF POINTS FOR CARNATIONS 



In order to be able to form a correct estimate of the 

 worth of a variety, it is necessary that the grower possess 

 a thorough knowledge and excellent judgment. He must 

 be able to weigh correctly the merits against the defects, 

 as every variety does possess some of both. There is 

 perhaps no better method than to employ the scale of 

 points as arranged by the American Carnation Society. 

 If a fair scoring will give a total of eighty or more points, 

 the variety possesses at least some merit, and should be 

 given further trial. This scale is arranged according to 

 the relative value placed on the diff^erent parts in making 

 up a perfect bloom, and was worked out by the leading 

 Carnation growers. 



Color is placed first with 25 points. Unless a flower 



