Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-14
AT THE FLOWER SHOWS
CHRYsANTHEMUMs NOT THE
ONLY INTERESTING BLOOMS.
Display Of Carnations - Experiment
on Large Scale-How Pro-
ceedings Are Conducted.

1t Is said to be probable that because OF
the exhibition Of flowers by the bureau Of
plant industry of the Agricultural Depart
ment is generally known as the "chrys-
anthemum show" that most attention Is
being attracted to those blooms in the
greenhouses at 18th and B streets north
west. and 1t may be because the chrysan-
themum is primarily an autumn flower and
the favoritism of the public is a seasonal
matter only, but other flowers and plants
are on display at the gardens which de-
serve popular consideration. 1t Is not to be
denied, however, that the past week has
been "chrysanthemum show" week. and the
f1ower-loving public has travelled in thou
streets and to the propagating gardens
south of the monument grounds.
One event of chrysanthemum week was
the naming of new bloom produced by
the men who are directed by Mr.. B. 7. Cal
loway, chief of the bureau of plant indus
try, one Of the best OF the seedlings 1905
being formally christened the Mrs Donald
Mclean" In honor of the president general
of the Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton. Other newcomers into the chrysan-
themum world will soon be named and
when the doors are closed tomorrow even
ing the chrysanthemum show of 1906 will
be a matter Of history.
Other Interesting Features.
But to return to the other interesting
features of the floral exhibition, only pass
ing mention has beenomade of the car
nation show" yet the results accomplished
toward increasing the beauty and the mar
ket value Of the carnation are Of greatest
Importance. In the glass-covered garden
at 14th and streets one entire green
house is given over to "pinks," and in that
Enclosure there are S17 Towering and bud
ding plants. Carnations, like chrysanthe-
NUNS, are being subjected to the hybridiz7
Ing process with view both to improving
old-time favorite blooms and to producing
new species. Further than that. the bu-
reau of plant industry Is experimenting on
a large scale to determine the best earth
and the best fertilizer for increasing the
market value to professional florists of
the different varieties.
/ The carnation house Is divided into care
fully numbered squares and in each square
a different earth and different fertilizer
IS being tried. The plants are just now
coming into the full fower-bearing season.
and by recording the number of blooms
produced the respective values will be de-
termned. Further than that, comparison
is being made between plants raised in
out-of-door beds and transplanted at the
beginning Of cold weather to the dollhouse
and those which have grown to maturity
entirely under glass.
Experiment on Large Scale.
Some florists are satisfied with yield
of twenty-five cents per season from each
square foot Of space in their carnation
houses one of Chief Galloway's assistants
said today explaining the work now on ex-
hibition. while others demand fifty cents.
and still others are not satisfied unless
they can make each foot yield a full dol
lar In flowers. The difference in profit is
obvious. and it goes withou, saying that
the professional florists will welcome a
definite answer to the puzzing question of
fertilizing the growing plants. We are
conducting an experiment on a large scale
here which many growers would be unable
to duplicate in years of effort"
Hybrtdizing of carnations Is very similar
to hybridizing chrysanthemums-the opera
ton consisting of shearing off the pollen
bearing parts of flowers and allowing the
stigmas to grow to maturity before busting
fertilizing pollen upon them from other
flowers. Among the new varieties grown
by the bureau of plant industry this year
are several which show material improve
ment and which will prove of considerable
commercial value. Others show reversion
to the original, or single carnations, and
others are so double" that the calyces
prove too weak to hold the widely open
flower and they burst and are worthless,
while very few are practically double
double or two flowers in one These are
commonly called bull heads" and are also
of no value.