A GROUP OF CARNATIONS. 



1 HE Carnation, so deservedly esteemed both for its superior beauty and rich spicy odour,* must 

 certainly have been unknown to the ancients, or it would have been described by naturalists as 

 the rival of the Rose, and as such sung by poets. In its wild state it has ^\^ small red petals, 

 and attracts no notice from its beauty, nor has it in that state any scent. So the Eastern Tulip, 

 in its wild state, is of one uniform red. Art accomplishes all the rest. Then it is this Flower 

 deserves the appellation given it by botanists, Dianthus, the Flower of Jove. \ Some have 

 affected to despise the Florist's care, and hence these beautiful nurselings are denominated 

 by them Monsters, % because the petals are augmented, as in the double Rose, at the expense 



* In fair Italia' s bosom born, 



Dianthus spreads his fringed ray; 

 And glowing 'mid the purpled morn. 

 Adds fragrance to the new-born day. 



Oft by some mould'ring time-worn tower 

 Or classic stream he loves to rove. 



Where dancing nymphs and satyrs blithe 

 Once listen'd to the notes of love. 



Sweet flower, beneath thy natal sky 

 No fav'ring smiles ' thy scents invite; 



To Britain's worthier region fly. 



And "paint her meadows with delight." 



Shaw. 



' The modern Italians, from whatever cause, are said to hold all perfumes, even those of Flowers, in aversion; 

 perhaps from a dread of some subtle poison being thus administered, of which numerous (though not very 

 credible) instances occur in the tales of other times : — 40,ooo persons, in the period of the Roman republic, 

 are recorded in one year as having perished by poison. Vide my Philosophy of Politics, vol. i. p. 2;4, 



•f From Atoq, of Jove, av^oq, the flower. 



X Linnaus, who terms such flowers Monsters, tlius deridingly describes the Florist. " SucTi, by an over-great study and assiduous 

 inspection, have discovered such amazing wonders in flowers, as no man, the most clear-sighted in the world, could ever discern, but those 

 who are versed in this study. The grand objects of their attention are the most beautiful flowers, such as Tulips, Hyacinths, Anemonies, 

 Ranunculuses, Pinks, Carnations, Auriculas, and Polyanthuses. To the hidden varieties of these flowers they have given such pompous names 

 as excite wonder and astonishment, and are really ridiculous. These men cultivate a science peculiar to themselves, the mysteries of which 

 are only known to the adepts; nor can such knowledge be worth the attendon of the botanist; wherefore let no sound botanist ever enter 

 into their societies.'' 



Some apology, however, may be made for the Florist. " Not he alone is to be esteemed a benefactor to mankind who makes a useful 

 discovery, but he also who can point out and recommend an innocent pleasure. Of this kind are the pleasures arising from the observarion 

 of Nature, highly agreeable to every taste uncorrupted by vicious indulgence. 



" There will always be many in a rich and civilized country who, as they are born to the enjoyment of competent estates, engage not in 

 business civil or professional; but the restless mind must either find or make an object; pleasure, therefore, becomes to the unemployed a 

 serious pursuit. Whatever is its essence, and whatever the declaimer may urge against it, pleasure will be sought by all who possess the 

 liberty of election. It becomes then incumbent on the moralist not only to urge the performance of duty, but to exhibit objects that please, 

 without enervating the mind, and gratify without corrupting the principles. 



" Rural scenes, of almost every kind, are delightful to the mind of man. The verdant plain, the flowery mead, the meandering stream, 

 the playful lamb, the warbling of birds, are all capable of exciting emotions gently agreeable. But the misfortune is, that the greater part 

 are hurried on in the career of life with too great rapidity to be able to give attention to that which solicits no passion. The darkest habi- 

 tation in the dirtiest street of the metropolis, where money can be earned, has greater charms with many than the groves of Hagley. 



" Yet the patron of refined pleasure, the elegant Epicurus, fixed the seat of his enjoyment in a garden. He thought a tranquil spot, 

 furnished with the united sweets of art and nature, the best adapted to delicate repose. And even the severer philosophers of antiquity 

 were wont to discourse under the shade of a spreading tree, in some cultivated plantation. 



" It is obvious, on intuition, that Nature often intended solely to please the eye m her vegetable productions. She decorates the floweret 

 that springs beneath our feet in all the perfection of external beauty. She has clothed the garden with a constant succession of various hues; 

 even the leaves of the tree undergo a pleasing vicissitude. The fresh verdure they exhibit in the spring, the various shades they assume iri 

 summer, the yellow and russet tinge of autumn, and the nakedness of winter, affbrd a constant pleasure to a fine imaginarion. From 

 the snowdrop to the moss-rose, the flower-garden displays an infinite variety of shape and colour. The taste of the florist has been ridiculed 



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