XVlll INTRODUCTIOX. 



The histoiy of the Carnation's origin and 

 development to its present many forms, so far as 

 this can be traced, together with the latest in- 

 formation from those conversant with the flower, 

 whether as a " florists' flower," or border plant, or 

 perpetual-flowering " Tree " Carnation, as well as 

 the best methods of producing, protecting, and 

 exhibiting its blooms, so that each flower shall 

 display its whole beauty at a glance, which by the 

 very habit of its petals it will not do, because one 

 may easily and often conceal several that are 

 underneath it — all these matters are so many 

 points of interest and importance which it is sought 

 to gather together in this volume. 



Florists' flowers are like ourselves in this, that 

 while we shall ever see in them some quality that 

 will grow stronger, clearer, truer by practice— i.e., 

 by cultivation — so there is always room likewise for 

 improvement in the quality of our knowledge on 

 the same principle. 



The man who, in any pursuit, contents himself 

 •with the degree of knowledge which he has, is, in 

 floricultural terms, an " old variety " man, and is 

 taking the nearest road to defeat. 



" Genius," that large, bright word — that inborn 

 varied gift and power to be great — we almost 

 certainly have not. But genius has been cleverly 

 defined as " the capacity for taking infinite pains " 

 — a definition warranted fi*om the examples of 



