PREFACE xi 



I take [says Parkinson] this goodly, great old English 

 Carnation as a precedent for the description of all the rest, 

 which for his beauty and stateliness is worthy of a prime 

 place. It riseth up with a great, thick, round stalk divided 

 into several branches, somewhat thickly set with joints, and 

 at every joint two long, green (rather than whitish) leaves 

 turning or winding two or three times round. The flowers 

 stand at the tops of the stalks in long, great and round 

 green husks, which are divided into five points, out of which 

 rise many long and broad pointed leaves deeply jagged at 

 the ends, set in order, round and comely, making a gallant, 

 great double Flower of a deep carnation color almost red, 

 spotted with many bluish spots and streaks, some greater 

 and some lesser, of an excellent soft, sweet scent, neither too 

 quick, as many others of these kinds are, nor yet too dull, 

 and with two whitish crooked threads like horns in the 

 middle. This kind never beareth many flowers, but as it is 

 slow in growing, so in bearing, not to be often handled, 

 which showeth a kind of stateliness fit to preserve the opinion 

 of magnificence. 



It will amaze the reader, perhaps, to learn that 

 horticulture was in such a high state of development. 

 Some wealthy London merchants and noblemen, 

 Nicholas Leate, for example, actually kept agents 

 traveling in the Orient and elsewhere to search for 

 rare bulbs and plants. Explorers in the New World 

 also brought home new plants and flowers. Sir 

 Walter Raleigh imported the sweet potato and to- 



