52 THE BOOK OF THE CARNATION 



we find superseded by a New Dobson's, commended as 

 the prettiest of the whole tribe, and a sort to use for 

 raising new kinds. The colouring of this variety was 

 distinct from all others, the centre being deep chocolate 

 with an edging of white, the nearest approach of any 

 known old variety to what are called the Black and 

 White Pinks. A break from these, not impossibly from 

 the New Dobson's, occurred about 1770, when James 

 Major, gardener to the Duchess of Lancaster, secured 

 a seedling with markings to the edgings of the petals 

 of the same colour as the centre. This was named 

 after his mistress, and so highly was it esteemed, that 

 plants of it were sold to the value of j8o. Seed saved 

 from the Duchess produced Lady Stoverdale, long con- 

 sidered a very fine form of what is termed the Laced 

 Pink, the present-day type of the Pink of the florist. 

 The muslin weavers of Paisley, in Renfrewshire, as a 

 class, were greatly devoted to floriculture, and one or 

 more of their number, about 1785, having secured seeds 

 of Pinks from London, the plants from which produced 

 among others some Laced Pinks, the culture of this 

 flower was entered on with such enthusiasm, and attended 

 with so great success, that varieties were shortly dis- 

 tributed over the country equal and even superior to 

 others. These were known as Scotch Pinks, and though 

 that name has somehow become attached to " Black and 

 White" varieties, or those without a lacing, it is clear 

 that the weavers themselves considered their laced pro- 

 ductions the more meritorious. During the first half of 

 last century, the cultivation of Pinks had undoubtedly 

 reached its greatest perfection, since when they have 

 gradually declined in favour, and it is doubtful if the 

 delightful Black and White section, also called Plain Pinks, 

 is now even in existence. Laced Pinks were divided into 

 three sections, being according to the depth of colour in 

 the markings called dark-laced or red-laced. The 



