concluded to put it on the market, he equipped me with photographs taken from time to time, calculated to show its manner of growth and productiveness during various periods of the Winter season. His idea was a novel one, and it would be well for growers introducing new varieties to follow that idea today.
My success with Carnation Queen Louise was as encouraging as with my first Carnation venture. I marketed quite a quantity, and I may add that no grower was ever disappointed with the variety. Thus I continued from season to season, plunging more and more into things horticultural and floricultural, and I am quite sure that had I the means at the time I should in all likelihood have built a Carnation range myself.
The Nelson Seedling
Along about February, 1899, I happened to be in Indianapolis, and among others I paid a visit to E. A. Nelson. I had never met nor heard of Mr. Nelson prior to that time. Entering his shed, I walked along looking into one greenhouse and another, but could not see anyone around the place. One of the greenhouses attracted my especial attention, and I wanted to enter it. To my surprise it was locked. I could see through the glass an excellent crop of pink Carnations, a variety which it seemed to me I had never seen before. A few minutes later, Mt, Nelson appeared. I introduced myself and stated the object of my call. He received me kindly, and volunteered to show me through his place. Unlocking the door, he let me into the Carnation house.
"What sort of variety is this, anyway?" I said. "It does not look like Scott—in my estimation it looks much finer than Scott."
"Why, this is a seedling of my own, which I have had for the last three years," he replied.
"What do you intend to do with it?"
"I have not fully decided yet. One grower offered me three hundred dollars for the stock, but I would not dream of letting it go at such a price."
"Neither would I," I concurred. "You have a mighty fine thing in this Carnation and you ought to make money."
Mr. Nelson thought so, too, but found it hard to put it on the market. It required money; besides, it entailed a lot of work for which he had not the facilities.
"Can you propagate it" I asked.
"Yes, indeed! It propagates like a weed."
I saw my chance, and right on the spot I made him a proposition.
"Mr. Nelson," said I, "I think, in fact I am sure, that I am the man to put it on the market for you. I have an extensive acquaintance among growers: I have handled successfully two varieties, such as Marquisee and Queen Louise, and I can see no reason why you and I should not get together on this deal. Of course I am a stranger to you. But I can easily assure you as to my honesty and reliability. Ask Anthony Wiegand, or E. G. Hill, or dozens of growers whom I can mention if you wish. Besides, there will be no outlay of money on your part. I will undertake to pay all advertising and travelling expenses; you will grow the stock and attend to the shipment of all orders; and at the end of the season we will apportion our profits, I getting a certain percentage of the gross receipts."
My idea appealed to him, and I was to see him the following morning to settle upon definite terms. On the day following I called again, and our bargain was clinched. The Carnation was to appear the year following. It gave me a year's time to talk about it, to introduce it, to lay out my plan of campaign. I felt that here was my chance, which could not possibly get away from me. First of all, I wrote up a descriptive circular, and had printed a great number of copies. I spread this broadcast over the length and breadth of this great
