52 How TO Grow Cut Flowers. 



either in the animal or vegetable kingdpm, by repro- 

 ducing them through the medium of inferior parent- 

 age. But a prominent grower once said to me, " You 

 are unfair in your premises ; plants are not governed 

 by any such laws." Let us look into the matter. 



Some time since, while examining the plants in the- 

 "Botanical Garden at Washington, my attention was 

 called to one, with the request that I name it. It re- 

 sembled a familiar variety, but was so far superior in 

 every way that I hesitated to call it by name. It 

 proved to be what it seemed, Ficus Repens, but so 

 greatly changed bj' careful selection and the propaga- 

 tion each year for fifteen years, from each year's im- 

 provement, as to be scarcely recognized at the end of 

 that time. 



If this proved true in this instance and with this 

 plant, why does it not apply to other plants as well? 

 I have felt confident for years that it was one of the fac- 

 tors of success, and am confirmed in this belief through 

 the recently published statement of one of our most in- 

 telligent carnation growers, who in an able article con- 

 tends that he has proved these conditions necessary in 

 the propagation of this, his specialtj', if he would foster 

 and preserve freedom of bloom*. 



In many instances it is necessary to the trade of the 

 grower, or the wants of thie locality where he may be, 

 to raise a miscellaneous stock. On such a place it vi^ill 



''American Florist, Vol. 8, page 236. 



