22 FLORA HTSTORICA. 



perfection has been achieved. We have two species 

 of Stock indigenous to our soil ; but we are of opi- 

 nion that the Garden Stock has been raised from 

 the seeds of the more fragrant Stock of the Greek 

 Islands, or of Italy, of which Plutarch speaks, in 

 his book De Amove Fraterno, It is a plant that 

 delights in the atmosphere of the sea, and, conse- 

 quently, thrives in Britain, where its culture has 

 been so successful. 



The garden yields 



A soft amusement, an humane delight. 

 To raise th' insipid nature of the ground 

 Or tame its savage genius to the grace 

 Of careless, sweet rusticity, that seems 

 The amiable result of happy chance. 

 Is to create and give a god-like joy, 

 Which every year improves. 



Armstrong. 



Gerard only speaks of the purple or violet, and 

 the white Stocks ; but Parkinson speaks of the 

 crimson, and the Stock of a fair red colour, as 

 also of the variegated Stock. At the commence- 

 ment of the eighteenth century, Loudon and|Wise, 

 "who -were the celebrated nurserymen and florists of 

 that age, gave long directions for the management 

 of these flowers, which they then saidjproved one 

 of the principal ornaments of our garden, from the 

 variety and number of its flowers. 



The bright red, or carmine Stock, Cheiranthus 

 Incanus, or Queen's Stock, must ever remain the 



