50 FLORICULTURAL GLEANINGS. 



remarks on some of the Carnations at present cultivated in the North 

 of England ; and hope they will be worthy of a place in that work. 

 I do not, however, wish it to be understood that I represent them all 

 as the best varieties in cultivation of the different classes to which 

 they belong ; they are among the best varieties in cultivation in 

 Northumberland, and at the same time, I may say, that I think the 

 collection must be very select indeed into which most of them would 

 not be admissible. There are, no doubt, scores of varieties in other 

 parts of the kingdom that are equally as attractive and perhaps much 

 more scarce, but I merely propose to comment upon such flowers as 

 have fallen under my own observation here. In doing this, I shall 

 give every praise to the varieties that I consider worthy of general 

 cultivation, and at the same time, I hope that I may be allowed to 

 comment upon those which are evidently only indifferent, without it 

 being considered that I am a " busybody," and one trying to under- 

 mine the sale of any man's flower. So far from this being the case, 

 I think one of the best ways of pushing good flowers into wider cir- 

 culation is to describe them faithfully, so that any amateur may 

 know what varieties will be most likely to gratify and repay him for 

 the trouble and care of cultivation, while at the same time he may be 

 made aware of those that will be more likely to disappoint him. At 

 all events, Truth shall be the basis of my remarks, which no doubt 

 is the best guarantee of their suitableness for the Cabinet. 



It is to be regretted that the Carnation is, like the Auricula, cul- 

 tivated by comparatively few. The idea that the cultivation of them 

 is attended with so much trouble and expense seems to deter many 

 from purchasing them, as in many floricultural societies where there 

 is very sharp competition w r ith. other sorts of florists' flowers there is 

 comparatively little with Carnations and Picotees. This is greatly 

 to be regretted, as, in my opinion, there seems no more trouble in 

 cultivating them than there is with any other variety of Flora's 

 beauties. Any one who has a good cucumber frame may easily 

 preserve them through the severities of winter; and their propaga- 

 tion in autumn is very easy if attention be paid to the directions 

 given in the January number of the Cabinet, or any other of the 

 articles on the same subject which have appeared in former numbers 

 of that work. By cultivating a select few of every class of florists' 

 flowers, the amateur's flower garden will present a succession of 



