26 GREENHOUSE MANAGEMENT. 



For early blooming, the best sorts are the well- 

 known Gen. Jacqueminot, Anna de Diesbach, Mrs. John 

 Laing and Magna Charta. For late sorts, in addition 

 to the above, Gloire de Margottin, Ulrich Brunner and 

 Baroness Eothschild can be used, and with good care 

 will give satisfaction. 



CHAPTER IL 



THE CAENATION. 



Although the old garden pink and the carnation, oi 

 gillyflower, as it was called, have long been grown, there 

 being over three hundred varieties as far back as 1676, 

 the florist's carnation of to-day is comparatively a mod- 

 em creation. The first real step in its development was 

 made by Dalmais, of Lyons, France, some fifty years 

 since, and they were further improved by Alegatiere, 

 who, in 1866, developed varieties with stiff stems. 



The origination of new varieties has been taken up 

 by quite a number of American florists, and they have 

 met with remarkable success. The method pursued is 

 by careful and systematic cross-fertilization. When 

 skilfully performed, perhaps fifty per cent of the seed- 

 lings will give double flowers, and five per cent may 

 have enough promise to warrant their further trial 

 The improvement is along the lines of size, shape, fra 

 grance and color of the flowers, the vigor and freedom 

 of bloom in the plant, the length and stiffness of stem, 

 and the perfection of the calyx ; and although much has 

 been achieved, there is promise of great progress in the 

 future. 



Within the past ten years the demand for carnation 

 flowers has greatly increased, and this has led to the 



