The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-30
ARRAYS OF CARNATIONS
RICH FLOWERS TO BE SEEN ON THE
INDIANAPOLIS MARKET.
Indianapolis Does Not Grow Many
as She Uses-New Seedlings to APP
pear mt Coming Flower Show.

There are rich arrays of carnations to be
seen in the Indianapolis flower market and,
considering their good qualities, the florists
say they are being sold at fair price. Car
nations ranging from dark red, or the
Roosevelt variety. to 'moonlights, or pure
whites, with many delicate tints between
the two extremes, are on the market In
quantities and the growers about Indian
apolis anticipate a good season.
Indianapolis people will buy 100000 of these
blooms during the year, IL is estimated, and
this amount will not be grown here at home
1t is estimated that $1,000 of the number will
come from the greenhouses of one firm north
of the city. Thousands will have to be
shipped from other Indiana points
indianapolis is in what is known as the
richest carnation belt in the world. There
are some greenhouses in Indiana which
produce more of the blooms, perhaps, but
the florists have built up an immense bust
ness in this flower here at home. The car
nations are in flourishing condition in their
beds which can be seen in greenhouses
about the city. As they reach the markets
they have long stems, the blooms are or
large size and seldom is one found on
florists counter that has burst from its per-
sistency in growing.
1t is doubtful If any flower offers itself to
wider range of experiments to the expert
growers than does the carnation. The num-
Der of new varieties which florists obtain
each year by crossing reach into the thou
sands, but many of them are freaks that do
not have sufficient merit to reach the pub
lie, the growers throwing the results away
soon as qualities are shown to be below
fixed standards. A carnation, to be a sue
cess on the market, must possess length and
strength of stem, fragrance of high grade.
brilliancy and size in bloom, and other good
qualities that go to make one of the flowers
attractive.
1t takes about three years for new va
riety of carnation, after careful work on the
of how it is going to develop. Growers know
enough of the public demand to determine
If new variety will take" but men who
are in the market buying new seedlings do
not always take the word of an originator
of new variety that his product will be a
success. Before growers in general will take
hold of another carnation growers fresh
flower, 1t has to pass muster or expert
Judges and the judges make most Of their
rulings in flower shows over the country.
The Indiana floral festival has for one OF
its chief purposes the assembling OF new
varieties of carnations from all parts of the
country, when they not only compete for
money prizes, but the scoring of the judges
determines the worth for growers who are
seeking fresh seedlings. A perfect carnation
would be scored 100 points by the judges
but no flower Of this family ever went to
that mark. Some of them have gone up to
"a or 50, but many of high grade, that have
met with marked success in public favor
have not gone over 80 or SO per cent, while
others have fallen a point or two below. II
carnation gets to 80 per cent. ii is regarded
as a worthy production. By careful manage
ment of a new Seeding IL is possible for the
| originator to make $4,000 or 900 out of II
by sales to growers over the land and Ii Is
with this financial gain in view that florists
year after year, keep pursuing the elusive
qualities that go to make up a successful
| carnation.
| 1t is expected that thousands of carna.
| lions, many of them never shown in public
| before, will be In Tomlinson Hall when the
| floral festival opens on the evening of Nov
| TO- The following day, Wednesday, is to bt
given to special exhibits Of carnations and
| ia BILE decorations. There are many classes
| provided for carnations in the festival
| premium list, both for old varieties that
| have been improved upon and for seedlings
| that are new this year.