78 THE BOOK OF THE CARNATION 



curiously enough, are very old practices, and are referred 

 to by Shakespeare in the Winter's Tale, while des Serres 

 gives a detailed account of the method, and the reason of 

 resorting to the practice. " Pour meslanger et changer 

 les CEillets, Ton les ente en escusson ; en fente aussi ; 

 en ceste fa9on, tresrarement : et en quelque maniere 

 que ce soit, est necessaire d'y apporter de la curiosite, 

 pour la foiblesse de la plante." And then he goes on to 

 details ; stating his belief that " Piquassats," flowers white 

 with red spots, were produced in this manner, 



