128 OBSERVATIONS ON THE CARNATION. 



mouth of the tube ; and the nearer the whole truss approaches a com- 

 plete circle, the more perfect it will be esteemed by the connoisseur. 

 Those Auriculas having the corolla all of one uniform colour, and 

 technically called selfs, are in little esteem among the florists of the 

 present day. Indeed, in the north of England, they are not culti- 

 vated at all as prize flowers. 



In conclusion, I beg to reiterate my opinion that nothing is more 

 worthy of the attention of the florist than the Auricula. Coming 

 at an early season, when few other florists' flowers claim our atten- 

 tion, and showing us more forcibly the contrast between the stern 

 piercing blasts and bleak desolation of winter, and the delightful and 

 invigorating return of the season of flowers, they make a far deeper 

 impression on the thinking mind than the flower which blooms in 

 the height of summer, when the attention is attracted by such a mul- 

 tiplicity of nature's beauties; they teach us to ruminate on the 

 wonders and beauties of creation that are scattered about us on every 

 side, and induce us to exclaim, in the beautiful and pious language 



of Milton, 



" These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, 

 Almighty ! thine this universal frame, 

 Thus wondrous fair ; thyself how wondrous then ! 

 Unspeakable, who sitt'st above these heavens, 

 To us invisible, or dimly seen 

 In these thy lowliest works ; yet these declare 

 Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine." 



ARTICLE IV. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE CARNATION. 



BY E. H., STIRLINGSHIRE. 



The Carnation, which has now become a great favourite with all the 

 florists of Europe, is a child of art, having been raised from a small 

 " red clove 'pink," which is thought to be a native of our climate, 

 since it has often been found growing wild on rocks and old walls, 

 and in other situations where the soil is dry (this ought to teach the 

 young florist to grow this plant in a dry sandy soil). It does not 

 seem to have been known to the ancients, and probably the first 

 notice of it in this country is by Gerarde, who received it from Poland 

 in the year 1597. The Carnation is propagated by seeds, by layers, 

 or by slips termed pipings. Soil : — Mr. Hogg recommends the fol- 



