CLASS X. ORDER II.] DIANTHUS. 619 



that by this method is obtained a great variety, but generally great 

 numbers are obliged to be grown before a new or good flower is pro- 

 duced that is worth cultivation, for already the esteemed varieties 

 amount to about four hundred. 



Asa florist's flower it is one of the greatest favourites both of our 

 own country, Germany, Italy, and France, and is grown both in pots 

 and in beds, requiring only to be protected from the extremes of heat 

 and cold ; in winter a frame matted over is sufficient, and in summer 

 an awning of canvas, &c. to shade them from too great heat of the 

 sun ; this, however, is not necessary, except when they are in bloom ; 

 when also the florist has many and nice operations to perform, in the 

 management and arrangement of his blooms, for the descriptions of 

 which we must refer to the various Florists' Works and Magazines that 

 are constantly being published. It may be useful, however, to state 

 that florists distribute Carnations into three different classes, flakes, 

 bizarres, and picotees. 1. Flakes are marked only with two colours, 

 and these in large stripes going through the petals. 2. Bizarres (a 

 French word, signifying odd, whimsical, fantastical,) are variegated in 

 an odd irregular manner, in spots or stripes, and with no less than 

 three colours. 3. Picotees (from the French word piquelte, pricked or 

 spotted,) are white, and spotted over with scarlet, red, purple, &c. 

 These classes are again sub-divided according to their colour, as the 

 scarlet flake, the pink flake, yellow flake, &c. Flakes are not so much 

 esteemed as the Bizarres. The Picotees] are the smallest flowers, with 

 the edge of the petals serrate, and are generally considered more hardy 

 than the others. 



4. D. dehoi'det, Linn. (Fig. 704.) Maiden Pink. Stem decumbent 

 at the base, branched, rough, with pubescence ; flowers solitary ; scales 

 of the calyx about two, ovate-acuminate, half as long as the calyx ; 

 leaves linear lanceolate, narrow, acute, the lower wider and obtuse; 

 petals smooth, obovate, toothed. 



English Botany, t. 61. English Flora, vol. ii. p. 288. Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 204. Lindley, Synopsis, p. 44. 



/3. glaucus. Leaves glaucous ; petals nearly white, with a purple 

 circle near the base. 



English Flora, vol. ii. p. 288. Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 

 204. Lindley, Synopsis, p. 44. D. glaucus, Linn. 



Root somewhat woody, branched. Stems mostly numerous, tufted, 

 decumbent at the base aud spreading around, branched alternately, 

 somewhat angular, and thickly clothed with short pubescence, some- 

 times only slightly so. Flowering stems erect, from three to twelve 

 inches high. Leaves opposite, united at the base, rough, with close 

 pubescence, and finely serrated on the margin, the upper ones narrow, 

 linear lanceolate, with an acute point, the lower wider, shorter, with an 

 obtuse point. Flowers solitary, terminal. Scales of the calyx two, 

 rarely four, orate acuminate, the margins membranous, the point 



