CLOVE PINK TRIBE 103 



the same. Thus, in another instance, John Ray mentioned that the beautiful 

 little sea lavender [Stdticd spathulata) grew at Ramsgate, in Kent ; and there 

 it still grows in great luxuriance, on one part of the chalk cliff between 

 Ramsgate and Broadstairs, in such profusion, as to clothe some yards of the 

 surface of the cliffs with its flowers, while it is to be found on that spot only. 

 Quite as singular is it that the hispid marsh mallow {Althcea Jiirsuia), which 

 was recorded as growing near Cobham more than fifty years ago, still grows 

 there, though it is found in only one other part of the kingdom. The 

 Dianthiis caryophyllus, with its pleasant clove-like odour — the July flower of 

 our ancestors — varies in hue from a deep red to a pale rose-colour, or white. 

 It is usually about a foot high. It is the origin of our valued flower the 

 Carnation, and some Avriters have thought that we owe to it all our beautiful 

 varieties of Pinks, Sweet-Johns, and Sweet-Williams, of the garden. These 

 have long been favourite border-flowers, and Gerarde tells how, in his day, 

 the Sweet-William was esteemed for its " beauty to deck up the bosoms of the 

 beautiful, and for garlands and crowns for pleasure." These flowers, how- 

 ever, owe their origin to D. barbatus. Other species commonly grown in our 

 gardens are the Feathered Pink {Dianthus plumarius) of southern Europe, and 

 the Carthusian Pink (Dianthus carthusianorum) of Germany. Dr. Withering 

 remarks on this subject : " Gardeners well know that from the seed of the 

 Carnation Pinks are never obtained, nor from that of Pinks can Carnations 

 be procured. In fact, these favourite flowers originate from distinct species, 

 and are not mere varieties of the same, as has been erroneously, and even 

 recently, intimated. The art of floriculture, sometimes despised with a repre- 

 hensible degree of fastidiousness, has, in this instance, transformed a plant, 

 comparatively obscure, into one of the most delightful charms which the lap 

 of Flora contains. The surprising metamorphoses which the most indifferent 

 are accustomed to contemplate with pleasure, were probably commenced 

 under a more genial sky than that of Britain ; for we learn from Pliny, that 

 these productions were unknown to the Greeks, and equally so to the Romans, 

 until the Augustan age, when they were obtained from tlae brave Biscayans, 

 as one trophy resulting from the conquest of that province, and were thence 

 called Cantabrica. Our gardens may now receive embellishments from more 

 than three hundred difterent kinds of Carnations, under the denominations 

 of Flakes, Bizarres, and Picotees {PicqtietU, spotted) ; and these may be pro- 

 pagated by seed, but more successfully by cuttings, about the month of July." 

 Rare as our Carnation Pink is in this country, it is not uncommon on the 

 south side of the Swiss Alps ; and Meyen says, that at St. Jago de Chile it 

 is quite as beautiful as with us, and probably more aromatic. It has been 

 cultivated from time immemorial in Europe for its spicy odour and its beauty. 

 A pleasant syrup is still in some countries made of its flowers, which our 

 fathers termed Sops-in-wine, because of their old uses in giving flavour to the 

 festive cup. It appears in former days to have been customary for persons 

 who were betrothed to wear some flower as an external and conspicuous 

 token of their engagement. The Carnation was, it would seem, often chosen 

 for this purpose ; hence the lines of Spenser : — 



" Bring Coronations and Sops-in-\viiie, 

 Worn of paramours. " 



