Ornarnentals. 



59 



The florists are certainly making the best of every circum- 

 stance to further their profession. They have been united and 

 encouraged by means of the Society of American Florists, 

 which, although in but its eighth year, is the strongest horti- S - A » F - 

 cultural organization in America. A most auspicious influ- 

 ence of this society is the awakening of special and minor so- 

 cieties all over the country. The movement which a few 

 years ago carried a horticultural or fruit-grower's society into 

 so many of the local fruit-sections, is now eclipsed by one 

 which has arrested the attention of florists in almost every 

 important city in the land, and has established numbers of 

 state and local organizations. Two special national societies 

 of great promise have also been organized — the American 

 Chrysanthemum Society, organized in 1889*, and the Ameri- 

 can Carnation Society, established this year. 



Carnations. The organization of the American Carnation 

 Society is probably the most important independent floricul- 

 tural movement of 1891. The society was organized October 

 15, at Horticultural Hall, Philadelphia, at which time about 

 50 names were placed upon the roll. The officers elected 

 at this meeting are as follows : President, Edwin Lonsdale, carnation 

 Philadelphia ; vice-president, William Swayne ; treasurer, C. Society 

 W. Ward, East Moriches, New York ; secretary, C. J. Pen- 

 nock, Kennett Square, Penn. These, in connection with 

 Robert Craig, Philadelphia, R. T. Lombard, Wayland, Mass., 

 and James Hancock, Grand Haven, Mich., constitute the 

 executive committee. The objects of the society are stated 

 by the constitution to be as follows : 



1. To increase the general interest in the cultivation and use of the car- 



nation. 



2. To improve the standard of excellence in the flower. 



3. To improve the methods of cultivation and methods of placing it 



upon the market. 



4. To increase its use as a decorative flower. 



5. To improve the methods of growing plants and rooted cuttings, and 



marketing the same. 



6. To infuse into the grower a more thorough understanding of the 



general rules of successful business management. 



7. To supervise nomenclature properly. 



8. To stimulate the growing and introduction of improved seedlings and 



crosses, by a system of exhibitions and awarding valuable prizes. 



The annual meeting is to be held on the third Tuesday in 



*Organized as National Chrysanthemum Society. See Annals for 1889, 89. 



