Ornamentals. 



6 3 



for 100 blooms at any time, and during seasons of par- 

 ticular demand $2, 50 to $3 per hundred is frequently obtained. 

 It is safe to say that the production of carnation-blooms has 

 increased 50 per cent, during the past year. 



" The most extensive carnation-establishments are in the 

 vicinity of the large cities — Boston, New York, Philadelphia, 

 Washington, Chicago, Cincinnati, Buffalo, etc., although from 

 the fact that the blooms will bear long transportation they 

 can be grown in localities quite distant from such centers. 

 Southeastern Pennsylvania has been prominently known as a TheCar- 

 carnation section, and a radius of 50 miles from Philadelphia f*dustry. 

 probably includes a greater number of growers than any other 

 similar area. It is estimated that there are now about 

 1,500,000 square feet of glass devoted exclusively to the cul- 

 ture of carnations. At the ordinary space given to a plant, 

 this would require about 3,750,000 plants. Thirty blooms is 

 perhaps a moderate yield per plant, which at 75 cts per 100 

 would give 22}^ cts. a plant or a total annual yield of nearly 

 $850,000 ! 



"Observant growers have been aware for some time that 

 causes unknown or little understood materially affect the 

 growth of the plant and also the product. In some localities 

 whole houses have succumbed to such attacks, while the 

 amount of inferior flowers offered for sale, is sufficient evi- 

 dence that there is much to be learned in this direction. Here- 

 tofore precautionary steps have been exceptional, spasmodic Amer i C an 

 or non-systematic. The recently organized association, the j?*J£** ion 

 American Carnation Society, will undoubtedly be able to in- 

 vestigate and throw light upon such points. This society is 

 composed of growers and those interested in carnations, united 

 for the exchange of thought and the improvement of methods 

 relative to the cultivation of carnations. Exhibitions of new 

 and valuable seedlings will be held, and at the meetings papers 

 on practical themes will be presented and discussed." 



An interesting result of the carnation agitation of the year 

 has been the coining of the word " carnationist," to designate 

 a fancier of these plants. 



Chrysanthemums. — Interest in chrysanthemums continues to 

 increase. The chrysanthemum is undoubtedly the most popu- 

 lar flower at the present time for display and exhibition pur- 

 poses. None other lends itself to so many varied uses at the 



