PINK. 2^ 



part of Spain which is now named Biscay, then in- 

 liabited by a ferocious and warlike people called 

 Cantabri. These people, having rebelled against 

 the then masters of the world, were conquered by 

 Augustus ; and during these struggles the plant was 

 discovered and conveyed to Rome, where it was. 

 called Cantabrica, after the country from whence 

 it was procured. (Pliny, lib. xxv. c. 8.) Our 

 readers will not be surprised that a people whose 

 principal profession was the art of war, should have 

 attended to so simple a flower as the Pink then was 

 in its natural state, when they reflect, that flowers 

 were esteemed one of the luxuries of those people, 

 who seldom sat at their meals without wearing 

 chaplets of fragrant blossoms ; and as novelty has 

 ever had its charms, a new flower possessing a 

 spicy fragrance would naturally excite considerable 

 attention. 



Dr. Turner, one of our earliest writers on 

 plants, calls it Cantabrica Gelouer, and from him 

 we learn that it was then cultivated in our gardens, 

 since he says — '^ The gardin Gelouers are made so 

 pleasant and swete with the labours and witt of 

 man, and not by nature." 



Monsieur Pirolle seems of opinion that it was 

 originally brought from Africa, since he says it 

 anciently bore the name of Tunica, and Herbe 



