244 A BOOK ABOUT THE GARDEN. 



" A moment o'er his face a tablet of unutterable thoughts was 



traced, 

 And then it faded as it came." 



And, as my father afterwards assured me, we had 

 thenceforth more fruit and vegetables. 



One more, and yet more striking, instance of 

 attachment to the carnation. "Gentlemen," said my 

 dear old friend, John Keynes, of Salisbury, at a dinner 

 of gardeners and florists, at which I presided many 

 years ago in London, " we are all enthusiastic gar- 

 deners, and you will like to hear a marvellous instance 

 of a brother's zeal. I knew an exhibitor of carnations 

 and picotees Strong was his name, and ' strong ' was 

 his affection who , in stepping out of his cart, at a 

 show held in Winchester, stumbled, fell, and broke 

 his leg. He persisted, nevertheless, in staging his 

 flowers, and remained, with his leg just as it was, 

 until the judges had made their award." 



I need hardly say that this strange eventful history 

 was received by the audience with mixed feelings of 

 incredulity and admiration; but when the historian 

 added, as he resumed his seat, " It was a wooden leg, 

 gentlemen ! " I shall never forget the combination of 

 disgust and delight which was to be seen on the faces 

 of the company. 



From romance to reality, persiflage to practice. 

 There are three methods of originating carnations, 

 and three modes of outdoor arrangement. They may 

 be raised from seed, from pipings, and from layers, 

 the latter process being far the most reliable, and 

 easily learned from one "object lesson," i.e., from 



