O THE CARNATION. 



kind of crown in the centre, as in Davey's Tower of 

 Babel and James's Lord Craven, the petals rising 

 one above another in regular order ; the guard leaves 

 in particular should be broad and long, and of a 

 stout texture, to support the rest, like those of Hum- 

 phrey's Duke of Clarence, the edges of which must 

 not be indented or fringed, as unluckily is the case 

 with Honey's Princess Charlotte, but plain and cir- 

 cular, like the leaves of a Provins Rose. A flower, 

 whose corolla or pod is long, generally shoots forth 

 the finest flower, and occasions the least trouble 

 in attending it. The flower or foot stalk must be 

 strong, straight, and elastic, to support the blossoms 

 firmly and gracefully, notwithstanding the stick 

 which is applied to sustain it; the height of the 

 stalk varies from 2 ft. 6 in. to 4 ft. 6 in. according to 

 the habit of their growth. 



o 



The value of a flower is also greatly enhanced, 

 when it exhales a sweet and fragrant perfume, as is 

 the case with Robinson's Britannia, Weltje's Sir 

 Edward Pellew, Broadbent's Victorious, Bates's 

 Wellington, &c. All Carnations possess this qua- 



