THE CARNATION. 5 



Harley's Enchanter, not breaking off abruptly, as 

 in Belcher's Lady Spenser. In a perfect flower, or 

 one that approaches nearest to perfection, every leaf 

 should be striped according to its class, whether flake 

 or bizarre : plain or self-coloured leaves are accounted 

 a great defect. The calix or cup, after the petals 

 are unfolded, must remain entire and unburst, and 

 the large external petals or guard leaves must be 

 without crack or blemish ; and the diameter of a 

 show-flower should never be less than three inches. 

 It is also considered a great defect when the corolla 

 is overcharged with petals, as in Reynolds 's King 

 and Young's Mount ^Etna, for the blossom in ex- 

 panding generally bursts the cup ; and it is no less 

 so when it contains too few, as is the case with 

 Crump's Rodney, Wood's Comet, and Anne's Prince 

 of Wales, though possessing the most brilliant and 

 distinct colours. It is unnecessary, perhaps, to state 

 here that those flowers which are thin of leaves 

 produce the most seed, on which account they are 

 valuable. 



The flower must be sufficiently double to form a 



