TO THE GROWERS OF PICOTEES AND CARNATIONS. 87 



been found are known to have been the stations of these people when 

 in this part of the world. 



In the time of Queen Elizabeth, when the high-plaited ruff was 

 ■worn both by gentlemen and ladies, the juice of tlie bulbs of this plant 

 was used to mai^e starch, and also to jmste books, and to fix feathers 

 upon arrows, instead of glue. 



Gerard calls this plant " Blew Harebel, or English Jacint," which 

 was evidently from the French Jacinthe. The term of Non Scriptus 

 was applied to this plant by Dodonseus because it had not the Ai Ai 

 on the petals, and therefore could not be the Hyacinthus Poeticus. 



TO THE GROWERS OF PICOTEES AND CARNATIONS. 



The following remarks and suggestions are given in continuation of 

 my letter in the Floriccltural Cabixet for February on tlie sub- 

 ject of these interesting flowers. I shall not seek to make any vague 

 or obscure observations, but endeavour to plainly state what I think 

 would prove highly beneficial to all parties concerned : — 



1st. That there be two exhibitions in 1850, the one to be held in or 

 near London, at one of our metropolitan floricultural shows ; the other 

 to be held in the north of England, say about 150 miles from London, 

 in such town as the growers of the north tliemselves may select, and on 

 such a date as they, the said northern growers, tliemselves may decide. 

 2nd. That the boundary line I have proposed be the division by 

 which to know the northerns from the southerns ; moreover, to avoid 

 neutrality, every town through which the said line passes be considered 

 a northern town. 



3rd. That there be six classes open to all England at each of 

 tiie proposed two exhibitions, viz. : — 



Class I. — For six blooms of dissimilar varieties of northern-raised 



Carnations. 

 Class II. — For six blooms of dissimilar varieties of northern-raised 



Picotees. 

 Class III. — For six blooms of dissimilar varieties of southern- 

 raised Carnations. 

 Class IV. — For six blooms of dissimilar varieties of southern- 

 raised Picotees. 

 Class V. — For the Premier Carnation Prize; (the best stand in 

 Class I. and the best stand in Class III. alone to compete in 

 this class.) 

 Class VI. — For the Premier Picotee Prize ; (the best stand in 

 Class II. and the best stand in Class IV. alone to compete in 

 this class.) 

 4th. That there be a subscription opened in every interested localitj^, 

 and all sums collected be lodged with a general treasurer, thus forming 

 an all-E.\glaxd Carnation and Picotee Fund. 



5th. That tlie prizes offered to the several classes range in the fol- 

 lowing order (liiglier or lower according to the amount collected), 

 viz. : — 



