68 Select Carnations, Picotees, and Pinks. 
yellow-ground Carnation he said, “ Curvilinear 
markings will have their place in the glory of the 
yellow-grounds beyond all doubt, but the more valued 
will be the rich deep breadths, shot, feathered, flamed 
or flashed with one or more colours redolent of 
variety, almost voluptuous in beauty. Longitudinal 
markings will be as much esteemed in the yellow 
grounds, and will occupy the same place with similar 
markings in the present day amongst the white, and 
to these may be added pure selfs in an almost 
infinite variety of shades, and others unmarked 
otherwise than with shade upon their grounds. 
Comparatively recent experience has compelled me 
to feel that in the possibilities of a relatively near 
future, there is a glory to be reached in the develop- 
ment of the yellow grounds, as far surpassing that of 
the white as the glory of the sun outshines the 
effulgence of the moon. May my brothers speedily 
enter upon the harvest!” 
The above opinion was expressed in 1888, and 
much has been done since then. Fuinality is an im- 
possibility in a flower still in the making. This 
was also more recently emphasised by Dr. Horner, 
who said:—“ What shall be the super-excellence of 
the future, of this alone we present labourers may 
not write. That will ever remain an unfinished tale 
of any florist flower—a story without an end, so long 
as there shall be florists who, in their day, will lead 
their flowers on, and make record of advances 
gained.” 
All this agitation about the yellow-ground 
Carnation was not without effect, for during the 
eighties and early nineties of last century many 
recruits to the cause had been made, both in this 
country and on the Continent. Previous to 1902 a 
large number of varieties were in cultivation and 
amongst raisers, Benary, of Erfurt, Chaundy, James 
Douglas, Ellis, Fisher, Hooper, Nowell, Proctor, 
Thomson, Wallington, and Dodwell, may be named, 
together with the Irish strain from Kilmurry. Few 
of the varieties then recorded are now in cultivation, 
though notable exceptions are Germania, Stadtrath 
Pail, Almira, Mrs. Reynolds Hole, Countess of 
Jersey, Lady Armstrong, and Dorothy, which still 
find admirers in many parts of the country, notwith- 
standing the immense influx of new and greatly im- 
proved varieties. 
