The evening times., 1899-02-14
GROWERS OF CARNATIONS.
Annual Convention to Meet In Phil
adeIphia This Week


Philadelphia, Feb 14-This city has been
selected as the rendezvous of the carnation
growers Of America to hold their eighth
annual convention this year, the use of
horticultural Hall, Thursday and Friday
Of this week, having been rendered TO them
by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Socie-
ty. The American Carnation Society is
the supreme court in all matters connect
ed with carnations, and its certificates
are eagerly sought for by the originators
of new varieties.
The past few years have been quite
prolific in new introductions, many Of
them greatly superior to pre-existing
sorts, and the number of newcomers
this year is larger than ever before, so
that the judges will have no sinecure
in awarding justice to the rival claim
ants for the society's endorsement.
The $4,000 pink from Boston (all car
nations are called pinks in Boston) will
be on exhibition, and the public will
! have chance 10 judge for themselves OF
the taste of the cultured Bostonians. Here
in Philadelphia we have a variety called
the 'Melba," which won the Craig silver
cup in the Horticultural Society's show in
1897 in open competition with the Mrs
| Thomas W. Lawson, the now famous $780,
600 Bostonian.
This "Melba" has been on view in this
city, along with its trophy, during the
past week. and has been attracting much
attention. The experts consider its color
far more charming than the Lawson, but
the latter is bigger. Mr.. Lawson has offer
ed a prize of So 900 to anyone who can
produce the equal OF his pink, and this
has stirred up the raisers OF new Varie-
ties as they never have been stirred be-
fore. The wires have been kept hot with
challenges during the past two weeks, and
| ii is expected that Mr.. Lawson will agree
TO have the matter adjudicated either at
the present meeting of the Carnation So
! ciety or at the 1900 meeting Much money
| and glory are at stake, and the rivalry is
very keen.
| William Nicholson. the president of the
| Carnation Society, is Massachusetts
man, and he will doubtless have some
! novelties to show, as will also other car
nation experts from that noted horti-
! cultural centre. The secretary. a. NJ. HsrT,
/ Lancaster, Pa, reports many entries from
/ Chicago. Cincinnati, St Louis and other
points In addition 10 the sOciety's prizes,
/ E. H. Michael offers a cup to the florists
/ club receiving the highest total of awards
at the exhibition C. NJ. Ward offers
: cup for the best scarlet seeding. The So
/ ciety of American Florists offers silver
| medal for the best six of 1897 and 1898
/ The CarnaIion Society offers a silver cup
\ Tor the best arrangement Ol taA Hoiio
! with or without foliage
The exhibition will be staged in the
lower hall which will be devoted exciu-
sively TO the exhibits. The 5 s-ssicns OF the
society will be held in the rooms OF the
/ Florists Club, who will tender the visit
ing delegates a banquet at O'Clock on
Friday evening. in horticultural Hall,
covers being laid for about gee The
Judges will be elected at the morning sss-
sion on Thursday. The following commit
tees are announced Banquet John West
cott, William F. Craig David Rust. Rob
ert Kift: finance David Rust, William +.
Craig; programme. Robert kift George
c. Watson; entertainment, John Burton.
George Anderson, William II. Wes;cott
William X Harris. George c. Watson is
| to be superintendent.
Thomas Calvin. of Boston, will speak
on Carnations From 4 Retail Stand
point" Robert Kift Of Philadelphia, will
speak on a similar subject from re Phil
adelphia standpoint; Professor Britton,
of New Haven, will speak on the proper
| fertilizers for making the pinks grow big,
beautiful and plenty OF them; c. w. John
sons subject will be Indoor Carnations y
The question box is open 10 all and wi /
be prominent feature of the convention.