Yellow Carnations and Picotees. 6) 
Harking back to 1867, or about that time, very 
few of the then existing yellow-ground Picotees were 
worthy of cultivation. Probably only one of them 
now exists, namely, Prince of Orange (Perkins) which 
is still grown in several collections, by virtue of 
the interest attached to it and its vigorous constitu- 
tion. Had the latter quality been lacking, it would 
have passed into oblivion long ago. It is therefore 
the oldest existing yellow-ground Picotee of any 
note, and the progenitor of most of the best varieties 
of the present day. The history of Carnations and 
Carnation culture in the open border has been 
revolutionised since Mr. Martin R. Smith, of Hayes, 
undertook their improvement by cross-breeding and 
selection. 
Nearly all classes have had additions made to their 
numbers by him,:-but his success with the yellow- 
ground fancies and yellow-ground Picotees has been 
phenomenal. Prince of Orange was used as a parent 
from which to procure new and more refined 
varieties of vigorous constitution. The yellow- 
ground race has long ago surpassed the white- 
ground Picotee in vigour of growth, and since 18g9 
varieties of equal beauty and refinement have also 
been raised and put into commerce. As yet they 
are few in number, and include such refined forms 
as Lord Napier, Childe Harold, Mrs. Walter Heriot 
and Abbot. The florist may yet be called upon to 
give similar vigour and constitution to its old white- 
ground relative as is now possessed by the yellow- 
ground Picotee. 
At present a very large number of the yellow- 
ground Picotees that appear on the exhibition table 
as such are permissible only by convention or 
abitrary agreement. They are handsome and 
effective flowers, generally perfect in every respect 
except in colour, which is not strictly confined to the 
broad or narrow edge which is so characteristic of 
the old race of white-ground Picotees. Their 
ultimate refinement, however, is only a question of 
time and perseverance, as the florist is now 
practically pledged to carry on and accomplish the 
work so brilliantly begun, or rather, well established. 
The varieties yet imperfect in the matter of edging 
may ultimately be relegated to the class or section 
for fancy yellow-ground Carnations, when the true 
yellow type exists in sufficient numbers to fill the ex- 
