44 Select Carnations, Picotees, and Pinks. 
together, most beautifully blended ; at another time, 
the edges or extremity only of the flower leaves shall 
be tinged and laced all round, or the whole covered 
with a netted and motley mixture of shining 
colours.” 
This confession of the old florist throws a side- 
light on the prevailing forms of the Picotee and the 
tendency amongst his brother florists of those days. 
The reader will also glean that the white-ground 
Picotee was then in the stage occupied by the 
yellow-ground Picotee at the present day. 
Hogg’s “ Description of a fine Carnation” shows 
how closely the Bizarre and Flake of those days 
accord with the modern conception of those two 
classes: —"“ The excellency of a Carnation is judged 
and estimated by the brightness and distinctness of 
its various tints and hues, and by the formation or 
construction of the flower leaves or petals; the 
ground colour should be of a clear white. . . . . 
and the flakes or stripes must run longitudinally 
throitigh the leaves. . . - ~ Ina perfect fewer 
or one that approaches nearest to perfection, every 
leaf should be striped according to its class, 
whether flake or bizarre; plain or self-coloured 
leaves are accounted a great defect. The calyx or 
cup after the petals are unflolded, must remain 
entire and unburst, and the large external petals or 
guard leaves must be without crack or blemish; and 
the diameter of a show flower should never be less 
than 3in. It is also considered a great defect when 
the corolla is overcharged with petals. . . ... 
for the blossom in expanding generally bursts the 
cup; and it is no less so when it contains too 
FEW ae coe a though possessing the most brilliant 
and distinct colours. It is unnecessary perhaps to 
state here that those flowers which are thin of leaves, 
produce the most seed, on which account they are 
valuable. 
“The flower must he sufficiently double to form a 
kind of crown in the centre. . . . the petals 
rising above one another in regular order; the guard 
leaves in particular should be broad and long, and 
of a stout texture, to support the rest. ae 
the edges of which must not be indented or 
fringed. . . . . but plain and circular, like the 
leaves of a Provence Rose. A flower whose corolla 
or pod is long, generally shoots forth the finest 
flower, and occasions the least trouble in attending 
