62 



Annals of Horticulture. 



crease of varieties, which at first glance may not appear de- 

 sirable ; but many of the older kinds are deficient on account 

 of lack in size, form, fragrance, or stiffness of stem. The 

 newer kinds, possessing more or less of these desirable qual- 

 ities, may still not prove to be adapted to the treatment of 

 different growers. This failure to prove universally good is 

 apparent to a marked degree in some varieties of carnations, 

 and as yet it appears to be little understood. The Butter- 

 cup is a striking example. At its best it is remarkably hand- 

 some, but many growers have been compelled to discard it 

 entirely on account of failure to root the cuttings or to grow 

 it in the summer preparatory to winter-blooming, and yet a 

 few florists are now growing it as successfully as ever. The 

 present tendency or aim of the specialist in this line is 

 towards the production of larger flowers, on long stiff stems, 

 with abundant fragrance. The petals need not be very 

 numerous, but of a shape to fill up the entire area of the 

 blooms, leaving no flat opening in the center. The petals 

 of the ideal flower, when viewed from the side, will present in 

 outline a semi-circular form, the lower ones extending hori- 

 zontally, not drooping or incurved towards the stem. They 

 will rise well up out of the calyx, which will be firm and large. 

 The stem will be strong, to carry the flowers erect, and well 

 supplied with foliage. This form is well illustrated in a flower 

 introduced last season, Angelus, although it does not possess 

 all the qualities of the ideal. More attention is being paid to 

 fragrance than heretofore, and one seedling, Aurora, was given 

 the preference in the award of a silver cup by the New York 

 Florists' Club on that account. 



" Mr. Thorpe's prediction of the ideal flower, so often re- 

 ferred to among growers — a flower 4 inches in diameter with 

 the other highest attributes and to sell for $1 each — seemed 

 somewhat chimerical when made two years ago, but now the 

 fulfillment appears to be much nearer at hand. Flowers with 

 particularly attractive qualities are selling readily for one- 

 third to one-half advance over less favored varieties. The 

 production of carnations is rapidly on the increase, while the 

 demand seems to keep pace therewith. As in other indus- 

 tries, the supply of inferior products is often excessive, and 

 the prices received fall below a profitable figure ; but first- 

 class flowers will readily sell at wholesale for 75 cts. to $1 



