108 ON THE ORIGIN OP THE PINK. 



thus written : — " The great improvements made in the Pink are of 

 very recent date, and hitherto chiefly, if not wholly, confined to this 

 kingdom ; in short, we may venture to assert that a Pink, called 

 Major's Lady Stoverdale, raised from seed in the southern part of 

 England by the person whose name it bears, was the first that 

 deserves to be classed among such as are held in esteem by florists. 

 It was raised about 20 years since, and was the first Pink possessed 

 of that singular and beautiful ornament, called a lacing, which is a 

 continuation of the colour of the eye round the white or broad part 

 of the petals, that gives it a most elegant appearance." 



I took Mr. Maddox's work to Mr. Major, and poiuted to the above 

 insertion ; in reply to which he told me that Mr. Maddox was right 

 as to his being the raiser of the first double-laced Pink, but not the 

 one he quotes in his work, as the Lady Stoverdale was not raised by 

 him till two years after his Duchess of Lancaster, it being a seedling 

 from it. 



With due respect to Mr. Maddox, I think I may venture to say 

 that, in his day, no person could surpass him for general knowledge 

 in the culture of florists' flowers, as well as leaving behind him many 

 valuable receipts, which do not appear to have been surpassed to the 

 present day. He (Mr. Major) lived many years in the parish of 

 Lewisham, in the county of Kent, and died on the 18th March, 

 1831 , at the advanced age of ninety-four years. 



Hauing myself been a Pink grower and shower for years, 

 and being in the habit of attending at many exhibitions of that 

 flower, I will endeavour to give some information that came more 

 immediately under my notice the past year. The show of Pinks at 

 Clapham,in the county of Surrey, at which society I had the honour 

 of being one of its censors, as also in the same delightful capacity 

 some years previous, on which occasions there have been a most 

 excellent display of blooms, with good awards for merit, and the 

 society is in a very flourishing state, being supported by many respect- 

 able individuals, and the day in question reflected great credit to the 

 members of the society and its supporters. I was also at the West 

 Kent Pink Society's show, held at the Tiger's Head, Chislehurst, 

 and which was the finest show at which I had ever been present, 

 and not less than seventy persons sat down to dinner provided for 

 the occasion. Eleven prizes were awarded, eight for the stands of 



