D I A 



D I A 



or Sweet-Willlams : the Narrow-leaved, or 

 Sweet-Johns; wllhsinglc and double flowers iu 



tach. 



The chief of the sub-vanetits m the first or 

 Iroud-leaved kind are, with broad leaves and tall 

 deep red iiowers, with tall fltsh-eoloLired flow ers, 

 with pure white flowers, with while dotted 

 flowers, with striped leaves and red fiowers, 

 lartre donl)le rose-coloured wilh sweet-scented 

 llowers, large double with deep purple burster 

 flowers, and wilh double \ariei;aied flowers. 



lu the second, or iiariow-kiiuvd sort, wilh 

 narrow leaves and deep red fit)wcrs, with pale red 

 flowers, witli pale red and flesh-coloured iiowers, 

 with purplish white-eyed flowers, wilh snow- 

 while flowers, with white and fle»h-coloui|ed 

 flowers, with white and purple flowers, with 

 white spotted flowers, and witli red flowers and 

 white borders, or Painted Lady Sweet-Wil- 

 liams. 



It is observed by Martyn, that the broad- 

 leaved sort, w ilh very double flowers of a deep 

 purple, inclining to blue, bursting the calyx, is 

 not so much esteemed ; but that the double 

 Rose Sweet-William, with flowers of a fine 

 deep ruse-colour, and smelling sweet, is much 

 valued, as it docs not burst. The Mule, or 

 Fairchild's Swcct-Williani, which is one of 

 the narrow-leaved double sorts, supposed to have 

 been produced from seeds of a Carnation impreg- 

 nated by a Swect-Wiliiam; the flowers are of a 

 brighter red than in eluier of the former ; their 

 bunches not quite so large, but the flowers have 

 an agreeable smell. . The narrow-leaved kind 

 are in general the most productive of double 

 flowers. 



The second sort, in its natural state, has the 

 root large, woody, and branched: the stems a 

 foot or eighteen inches high, decumbent at bot- 

 tom, jointed and branched : the leaves are glau- 

 cous, smooth, linear, a line in breadth : every 

 branch is terminated by one, two, or three flow- 

 ers. These flowers, in the improved garden 

 plant, have a spicy odour. 



There are both siiigW and double varieties, 

 with reddish flowers, with variegated red and 

 white flowers, with variegated red, white, and 

 purple flowers, wilh variegated red, scarlet, pur- 

 ple, and white flowers, and with variegated red 

 or purple above and while underneath. 



The Carnations are distinguished by modern 

 florists, irom the diflerenee of variegation, into 

 four classes : — as Flakes, having two colours only, 

 and their stripes large, going quite through the 

 l.'aves. Bizurres, with fiowers striped or va- 

 r.egated with three or four uifi'erent colours, 

 . 1 1 irregular spots and stripes. Piquettes, hav- 

 ing a white ground, spollc.d or pouuecd wilh 



scarlet, red, purple, or other colours. Vuiiit- 

 td Ladies, with the petals of a red or purple 

 colour on the upper side, and entirely white 

 underneath. 



Each of these classes have numerous sub- va- 

 rieties, cspeciallv the third, which was f(jrinerly 

 in most cstevni with florists ; but of late years 

 the Flakes have been in greater request. It is 

 useless how ever to enumerate their sub-varieties, 

 as they are not by any means permanent. 



The properties of a good Carnation are thus 

 stated by florists : — The stem of tlie flow er should 

 be straight, strong, and able to support the weight 

 of the flower wiihout hanging down : the flower 

 at least not less than from thirty to forty-five 

 inches high : the petals well formed, long, broad, 

 sliflT, and pretty easy to expand, or, as the florists 

 term it, make free flowers, being neither too 

 close nor too ihin ; the middle of the flower not 

 advanced too high above the other parts ; the 

 colours bright, and equally marked all over the 

 iiower : the flower very full of petals, so as to 

 render it, when blown, very thick in the mid- 

 dle, with the outside perfectly round. And 

 Martyn adds, " that the lower or outer circle of 

 petals, commonly called the guard leaves, should 

 be particularly substantial ; should rise perpen- 

 dicularly about half an inch above the calyx, 

 and then turn off gracefully in a horizontal 

 direction, supporting the interior petals, which 

 should decreasegradually in size as they approach 

 the centre, which should be well filled with them. 

 All the petals should be regularly disposed, and 

 lie over each other in such a manner as that their 

 respective and united beauties may meet the eye 

 all together; they should be nearly flat, or at 

 most have asmall degreeof inflection at the broad 

 end; their edges perfectly entire, wiihout notch, 

 frinjre, or indenture. The calyx should be at 

 least an inch in length, sufiiciently strong at top 

 to keep the bases of the petals in a close and cir- 

 cular body : the colours distinct, and the stripes 

 regular, narrowing gradually to the claw of the 

 petal, and there ending in a fine point. Almost 

 one half of each petal should be of a clear white, 

 free from spots." 



These properties are, however, chiefly expected 

 in the fine potted varieties, which on coming 

 into blow are usually placed together upon a 

 stand or stage considerably raised and covered, 

 in order to produce the fullest eflect, and by 

 protecting them to continue longer in beauty. 



The double varieties, as being more large 

 and beautiful in their colours, should be prin- 

 cipally cultivated. Some of ihcni, especially 

 the Bursters, arc extremely large, as three 

 or four inches in diameter over the crown. 

 Whole Blowers and Bursters arc common to 



