Or Monthly Carnations, can be easily obtained of the florists for summer
or winter blooming; the former purchased in the spring, and the latter
in the autumn. If one raises their own stock, it is not best to allow
those to bloom much during the summer that are wanted for winter
flowering. It is well to sink the pots in a good sunny place in the
garden, and when they run up and show signs of bedding, cut back the
stalk so that it may become more compact and branchy, then the buds in
the late autumn or winter, will be much more numerous. The best for
winter blooming are _La Purite_ (carmine), _President de Graw_ (white),
_Peerless_ (white, striped with pink) and _Peter Henderson_, of the
well-known varieties. Of those of recent introduction, _Lady Emma_ is
said to be excellent. One florist says that "it is destined to be one
of the leading winter-blooming Carnations. From my bed of one thousand
plants in the green-house throughout December and January last, I
plucked more blooms than from any other variety occupying the same
space." It has proved excellent also for a bedding pink. Its color is a
rare shade of crimson scarlet; the flower is of medium size, full and
double, and never bursting down the side. _Lord Clyde_ has for three
years proved to be an excellent winter bloomer. It is of a very robust
growth, like its parent the _Edwardsii_, but of a more dwarf,
low-flowering habit. The ground-work is white, thickly striped with
carmine, and a frequent blotch of maroon; very floriferous, each stem
bearing from six to eight flowerets. _Lydia_ is another of the recent
novelties, and is very handsome. Flowers very large and intensely
double, of a rich rosy, orange color blotched and flecked with carmine.
_Crimson King_ is one of the largest Carnations, very full, bushy habit,
and robust, color crimson-scarlet. A pure bright scarlet is rare; when
therefore, _Firebrand_, a novelty of 1880, was announced as a bright
scarlet, it produced quite a sensation. It is very highly commended by
those who have seen it. _Grace Wilder_, _Princess Louise_ and _Fred
Johnson_, are new hybrid seedlings now offered for the first time to the
public.
There was quite a discussion in the _Gardener's Monthly_ of last year as
to the best pure White Carnation. In the August number, Mr. E. Fryer of
Delaware writes: "The varieties called _Peter Henderson_, sent out by
Nanz and Neuner I have found to be the best white I have yet grown for
winter bloom. It is a stronger and better bloomer than de Graw, its only
drawback being that it runs up high like _La Purite_. _Snowdon_ is a
true dwarf, pure white, and if it proves a good winter bloomer, will
probably supersede all other whites, the flower being of fair size and
very fragrant. Bock's Seedling, _Charles Sumner_, I have grown the past
winter. The flower is of an enormous size, but it invariably bursts
before opening, and is a dull unattractive color. _Waverly_ I have also
grown last winter--a splendid variety, rich crimson scarlet; the color
was no way exaggerated as represented in the _Monthly_ a year ago;
produces a fair average of flowers to the plant, flowers selling readily
at ten cents each. I think this the most useful color to the commercial
florist.
"I still cling to the old carmine _La Purite_, which for quantity of
bloom, size of flower and general good qualities, I think has not been
beat by any of the newer varieties for winter bloom." Mr. Peter
Henderson, one of the leading florists, places _Snowdon_ above all other
white Carnations, its dwarf habit making it specially desirable.
Florist's Pinks are more dwarf than the Carnations, flowers very double,
clove scented, and are of various shades of maroon, carmine, crimson and
rose interlaced with white.