198 THE CLOVE AND CARNATION. 
her day. Spenser, who was remarked for his care in retaining the old 
manner of spelling, calls them Coronations, probably because they 
were used on these festive occasions, and from hence the name of 
Carnation seems a corruption. Some writers are of opinion that they 
were called Carnation after a flesh colour so distinguished, whilst 
others suppose that the colour was so named from the tint of the 
Carnation flower— 
‘“‘ Carnation’d like a sleeping infant’s cheek.” 
: Lord Byron. 
Spenser says in his Shepherd’s Calendar,— 
«© Bring hether the Pincke and Purple Cullambine, 
With Gelliflowres ; 
Bring Coronations, and Sops in Wine, 
Worn of paramours.” 
Drayton also speaks of them under the name of Sops in Wine,— 
‘© Sweet-Williams, Campions, Sops in Wine, 
One by another neatly.” 
Shakspeare says, by the mouth of Perdita.— 
————‘* The fairest flowers o’ the season 
Are our Carnations, and streak’d Gilliflowers. 
Which some call, nature’s bastards: of that kind 
Our rustic garden’s barren ; and-I care not 
To get slips of them.” 
The name of Clove, as well as that of Caryophyllus, was given to 
this species of Dianthus from the perfume being similar to that of the 
spice so called, and the flower was, on that account, frequently used to 
flavour dainty dishes as well as liquors, and it wasalso thought to 
possess medicinal properties. Gerard says, ‘‘ The conserue made of 
the flowers of the Cloue Gilloflower and sugar, is exceedingly cordiall, 
and woonderfully aboue measure doth comfort the hart, being eaten 
now and then.” Itewas also thought good against pestilential fevers. 
Gerard tells us also that he hada Carnation with yellow flowers, 
«« The which, (he says), a worshipfull marchant of London, Master 
Nicholas Lete, procured from Poland, and gaue me therof for m 
garden, which before that time was neuer seene nor heard of in these 
countries.” From this account we not only learn that it was a flower 
then cultivated in different parts of Europe, ,but we find with what 
care they were procured from distant countries. The yellow Car- 
nation is still scarce in this country, and although it is more fre- 
quently seen in the vicinity of Paris than in the neighbourhood of 
London, yet is it not so common in France as other varieties, though 
Parkinson speaks of the yellow or orange-tawny Carnation ds pro- 
ducing seed in this country much freer than any other kind of Car- 
nation, and from which he says numerous varieties were raised. 
This author enumerates by name forty-nine kinds of Carnations that 
were cultivated in the time of Charles I., whose queen was excessively 
fond of flowers; but although it appears that varieties were then 
procured from France and other parts of the continent, yet the largest 
