she | 2 — NYNTTaa “A VHLYad S| 130 » pairs lalallala ds es OOS a \ { iS : BOTANY AND FLORIGULTURE % ee ree ae Oe) Ca h PP AN Mw ANB De, A OA Be A De ee etn ey) - Onan OF CARNATIONS. Bertha Wi, Wellman. Le Ka MMs ess Pe : C2, ae ee 8 Nee on -: B-O-T-A-N-Y A-N-D F-L-0O-R-I-C-U-L-T-U-R-E :- of -:C-A-R-N-A-T-I-O-N-S:- Bertha i:. Wellman. ney, Aupust 13th, 1896. BOTANY AND FLORICULTURE OF CARNATIONS. The carnation belonss to the family of plants named Caryophyllaceae of the genus Dianthus. The genus Dianthus includes annual and perennial herbs, with opposite, narrow, often rigid grass-like leaves, tne flowers with their parts in fives; calyx cylinderical, nerved or striated, five parted subtended by two or more imbricated brackleté. Stamens ten, styles two; the ovary repening into a one-cell seed vessel; four valved at the apex and contains numerous seeds which are flat on the back and of a black color. There are but few of this family which deserve the atten tion of the Florist. Of these few meritorious species the carnnution stands foremost. Because of its beautiful varie>s- ations in color its delightful fragrance, and its good keep- ing qualities it has become a favorite with all, until today it stands second only to the sose. During the past few years many new varities have been brought about by crossing. The life of all these varieties is comparatively short. Te period during which they may be grown with profit being generally limited to four or six years. The method of propagation is largely responsible for this state of things. Nature designed a period of rest for this plant, whicn, if it could be secured would bring about a great change. But such a period of rest, it seems 104072 almost impossible to sive to any extent when propagated in the usual way. It is therefore necessary to replace the old plants, every few years, with seedlin,;;s. The question of carnation culture has become one of gzreat interest and we find opinions differ materially cmong growers in relation to many points in its cultivation. Perhaps the safest rule for a crower to follow is to carefully test some of tne meritorious varietics each year and thus determine and retain those varieties best suited to the conditions he is able to sive them. Because of the fact that carnations are a success in One place under certain conditions while they are a failure in another place under the same care, only a few general principles can be laid down as a basis of growth, and some of them must be varied to mect the alteration produced by variety soil or climate. The carnation was formerly propazated by layering, but because of the great length of time which this process takes they are propagated now exclusively by cuttings. Cuttinss three inches long should be made from the first of November to the last of February, as tunis is the time when we have the least amount of sunshine. The sunshine increases the top heat causing the leaves to grow while tne roots do not. TOey should be selected from wood which shows a tenden~ cy to flower early; wnicn is moderately strong with short joints and of a healthy constitution. They are preferably pulled, not cut; the off-shoots from flowering stems being used. They should be propagated in sharp sand, two inches apart between the rows, and need not be more than one-half inch in the row. The sand should be packed firmly around the cuttings, and settling it by means of thorough wetting is beneficial. When a small number of cuttings are to be made, a shallow box with holes bored in the bottom to afford perfect drainare, can be used with more convenience than benches, as the boxes can be moved about giving the cuttings new fucings to light and air. Since thecarnation is a native of moderate climate it refuses to srow well above sixty-five degrecs. The best of bottom heat for propagating being from fifty to sixty degrecs; tne air temperature being fifty degrees at night and from sixty to sixty-five degrees during the day. The cuttings should be sprinkled once a day and with this temperature they will form roots in about three weeks. After the roots are well formed them may be moved to a cold house or frame. This relieves the benches which is much needed at that season nnd hardens and fits the plant for being placed out of doors at an early date. Early out of doors and early in seems a good rule to follow. As soon as the ground can be properly worked, varying from the twentieth of April to the twentieth of May, the plants may be placed in the open field. The soil should be of a clayey nature, well underdrained, heavily coated with finely rotted manure, deeply plowed, thoroughly pulverized with a harrow, evenly rolled, and accurately marked out for the plants in rows thirty inches apart, and twelve inches apart in the rows. Carnations should be kept free from weeds; this together with breaking off the flower-shoots as tney appear during the season, is nearly all the attention they require until late in Augcust. By this time the carnation benches in the house should be prepared for the plants by being fitted with four inches of good garden soil. There is danger of having the soild too rich, and also the bottom too tight. Great danger to a good crop of carnation flowers lies in these two possible errors. The benches being ready, during cool, damp weather, the carnation plants are lifted with a ball of earth adhering to each, which, when planted, will increase the depth of the bench earth one inch. Excavations are mde with the hand in the finely pulverized soil on the benches, down to the bottom in which the ball is placed and the soil brought firmly around it. The plants should be planted in rows twelve inches apart, eight inches apart in the row, and five inches from the margin of the benches. There should be an air space betwean all the benches and tne wall. The plants being in place in the benches, should be free- ly sprayed, shaded and the soll moderately dampened; the doors and ventilators should be left open until required to be closed by severe weather. The necessary watering,ventilat ing, weeding, fumigating and the plucking of flowers: need to be given attention during the season. In April when the pover of the sun becomes great the plants need to be shaded by strong lime-water on the glass. The early June varieties, if watered and shaded will continue to blossom until August, after this tne bloom is so scaree the plants will not repay for their care and may be thrown away. In the cultivation of carnations among the many thinzs that need careful attention are the various troublesome diseases of these,y perhaps the rust is the most common. It is one of the fungous diseases which are prevalent in this country. It is a fungous parasite which produces countless millions of microscopic spores, a protion of which rise up into the air and float about and are carried by the wind, thus cusing a rapid spread of the disease. It appears on both sides of the caves and on the stoms, in form of small brown spots. These are raised above the surface and will rub off and discolor the hand when it is passed over them. Wherever the rust has obtained much head- way, no treatment is as sure a remedy as to pull up and burn the affected plants at once. Certain precautionary measures may, howewer, be used to guard off this pest. The air in the house should be kept as cool and dry as is suitable to the health of the plants. Care should he taken not to select any diseased plants, and still farther, certain mixtures may be used as preventatives, of which the Bordeaux mixture is at present the most used. It consists of sic pounis of sulphate of copper dissolved in two gallons of boiling water and allowed to eool. One peck of quick lime dissolved in six gallons of water and allowed to cool, and then added to the other solution. This solution is poured into a barrel containing forty gallons of wster and stirred while useing it. The presence of the spot, another fungus disease, is indicated by the appearance of blotches on the leaves, which unless arrested extend to the stem and soon destroy the plant. The disease arfises from a stagnant atmosphere, f om sour, pasty soil, from a severe chill; the remedy is indicated in the @ditions. Cut away the affected leaves, brush and clean the plant and soil, stirring the latter, and remove all stagnant matter; then expose the pdiant to the full influence of the Ught and air and soon the enemy will disapear. Bacterlosis of carnations is abundant and frequently present in the carnation plant, when neglected. It was not until recently known to the cultivator although it has for some time been present. When once noted it was thyoughly in vestigated until it hs become very well mastered. The dis- ease is caused by parasitic bacteria entering the plant f-om the air through the stomata or occasionally from the pun- cture of aphides. It is chiefly (seated) in the leaves of the irmature and weaker plants, rarely attacking the stems or other parts of the plants. The affected leaf, even when the surface presents no unusual appearance to the eye, if held towards the light, shnws small transparent dots scat- tered irregularly through the leaf, sometimes having a faint yellow color, which are the centres of infection. Sometimes the surface of the leaves are slightly raised over the dots making watery pimples. After a time the @ots hecome dis- tinct spots, and as they extend inside the leaves the surface tissues dry, the internal tissues collapse and whitish sunken spots appear. As this spot increases in size the leaves wither but continue to cling to the stem. Plants may be kept from this disease by keepins the fol- lage dry and preventing the presence of aphides. The tem- perature should be kept below fifty degrees. the nematode disease of carnations manifests itself in shriveling the tissues, usually on one Side of the plant, progressing from below upward, and resulting in the destruct- jon of the plant. At the base of the affected plant may be seen, irregular shaped galls varying in size and usually appearing on the thin roots or those of medium thickness. These galls are of a yellowish white color, easily recognized from the abrupt swellings appearing on the root. As they become older they -are very irregular and covered with little nodules. On some of the older galls these nodules are replaced by cavities surrounded by a thin, ragged margin. This disease is one of the most difficult to control. For open air cultivation there is hardly any precaution that will enable one to escape the disease except by rotating the carnation with other plants which are known not’ to be infest- ed by the nematode. Within the greenhouse the problem is a much simpler one. It ought not to be troublesome if care is taken to propagate from sound stocks, since sterilization of the soil by heat will be quite efective in preventing its introduction throujh either earth or compost. The carnation is also attacked by various insects such as the aphis or green-fly, the red-splider and the carnation twitter. The aphis subsists upon the juices of the plant by per- forating the outer skin and sucking the sap. Tobacco in any form is quickly fatal to this insect, but should be applied on its first appearance; as a preventative rather thm a cure. The conditions favorable for the red spider are hot and dry atmosphere, continued for some time. These conditions are as damaging to the carnation as they are favorable to the insect. The temperature should be reduced and a moist atmosphere maintained by spraying. This should be done only on bright days and during the early part of the day s@ as to nave the leaves dry at night. The carnation twitter, a little insect not generally known, is found in certain sections of the country, and most- ly upon plants grown in light soil. The leaves of the plants attacked curl up and have a frosted appearance. The only remedy seems to be to have heavy loam or clay soil, such as is suited to the health and nature of the carnation. There is little fear of carnation diseases if we start with healthy cuttings and treat the plants well. Among carnation growers the question of whnt constitutes excellency js one full of interest and needs consideration. First, no carnation that bursts its calyx is worthy of cultivation. This bursting of the calyx has been brought about by increasing of petals from five to fifty, while the -10- strength of the calyx has not kept pace with this multipli- cation. The calyx has been strengthened by bracts and it is not noticed that it never bursts except between these sup- ports. Second, the stem should be strong and erect. When we have drooping stems only the back of the flowers may be seen. Third, the varieties should develop a large number of flower stems. Fourth, The plants should have healthy well-formed buds. | Fifth, the flowers should be symmetrical and large, with petals regularly arranged, decreasing in size to the centre. The petals are preferably fringed. Sixth, the color should be bright, not having a faded appearance, should be clear and distinct. In this limited treaty on a subject involving so many questions of practical nature an attempt has been made to set forth as clearly as possible some general rulcs which may be followed in tne cultivation of carnations. But as has bean said, each grower must vary these general principles laid down as a basis of growth to meet his particular case. KUL | R 8 3073 eS _— >= — — — 3 129 fl ll HN ine er omart E UNIVERSI ii) “Wig 3 0317 wu 3073