New-York tribune., 1902-01-12
FOR THE NATIONAL FLOWER
AN EFFORT TO HAVE THE CARNATION
ACCEPTED-HOW TO KEEP THE
BLOSSOMS FRESH

The carnation is presenting itself the peo-
pie of this country a candidate honors of
national flower, and is finding its supporters in
many localities and among many cEtsses of people
although its strongest constituency is probably
among the florists At the coming meeting of the
American Carnation Society, OF which Charles
Willis Ward. of Queens, is president. which is
to be held in India polls, effort made to
advance the interests OF the carnation as the
national emblem, The State Florists Association of
Indiana, has already given the movement its in
dorsement, and a Nebraska Congressman has
drawn up n bill advocating the adoption of this
flower
At a recent meeting of the Horticultural Society
Mr.. Ward said that with the right treatment
carnations may be kept fresh for from three five
weeks AS the flowers received. he said
the stems should be put into water from which the
chill has been taken. Then the should be
placed In room where the temperature is from 50
55 degrees. and the flowers should be allowed to
cool down with the room 10 about 10 30 degrees II
the blooms kept in such every night
they may spend the day In the living room where
the temperature is 20 degrees or thereabOuts.
Freshly purchased carnations under this treat
ment should remain beautiful for week or two at
the least. Mr. Ward thought room the north
side of the house which has direct heat and
where the temperature ranges from 10 to so de-
grees the best place to keep carnations. He be-
lieved 1t injury 10 the flowers to put them on
ice even for short time
Most people suppose said Mr.. Ward, that flowers
must be absolutely fresh II they to keep We'll on
the contrary In order TO keep as long as possible
the flowers must be from the plants and be
properly cured before they shipped to the florist
or commission merchant Flowers TO reach this city
on Wednesday morning are cut early on Tuesday
morning before the rays of the sun have reached
them They are then put into vases containing
water and placed In room where the tempera-
ture held about so degrees, and there they re-
main for twenty-four hours
Allowing the blooms stand in water in a cool
room stfens the stems and nils the petals of the
flowers with moisture. that they will stand ship
ment and the rough usage to which they are sure
TO be subjected In passing through the different
hands IL carnations are packed at once after cut
ting they are liable TO become wilted and to fade
early.
Two million dollars, Mr.. Ward estimated is in
vested in the growth of carnations in this country.
and fully five thousand people are engaged In their
culture. About five million plants are grown annu-
ally four-ffths of the number being raised under
glass At least 100 OooOO blooms sold yearly
The carnation is now second only TO the rose in
commercial Importance
'"The carnation" Mr. Ward said, lis a flower
that awakens the love Of almost everybody, and
because II is sold at reasonable prices than
many other flowers IL comes within reach Oh
much larger class of people than does either the
rose or the orchid There Is use 10 which flowers
can be put TO which the earnation does not Iend
Itself. For almost scheme OF ueSVrd'ioh II AS
suitable Its wide range of pleasing eolors, It's
rich clovelike fragrance and It's lasting qualities
make n desirable for dinner centre piece decora
tions set pieces. etc.
ORIGIN OF CARNATIONS.
THE carnation (Dianthus caryophylus). improp-
erly called pink by many people, Is native OF
southern Europe. In Its original state II is half
hardy herbaceous perennial, growing about two
feet In height The original flower flesh col
ored and contained five broad petals. Its natural
neriod of blooming in the open air is from June to
August II is said to exist In the wild state in
England where II was introduced about the time
OF the Roman invasion As long ago as 800 B. G.
the carnation described by Theophrasuus who
gave IL the name dianthus. from the Greek 'Dios
divine and 'anthos, flower The caryOphyllus
was undoubtedly taken from the Glove tree cary
ophyllus aromaticus. and applied to the carna-
tion because of the cloveltle fragrance OF its
blooms. The name carnation. derived from the
Latin carnis.' flesh, refers TO the flesh colored
flowers of the original type.
THE carnation has been in cultivation for
than two thousand years. and in early Greek his
tory Is mentioned under the name gillynower AS
early the beginning of the sixteenth century the
development of the carnaton began Ia attract the
notice OF historians. and the European gardeners
contributed so many varieties that Gerald in 1897