26 THE CARNATION. 



and Pinks only, but to flowers generally. Yet, on 

 the other hand, there is a strong apology to he 

 offered for this neglect in the gardener, as far as it 

 regards Carnations and Pinks, for I have mostly 

 noticed them to be of the worst and most common 

 description, such as I would not give a place to in 

 my garden. To cultivate a bad flower, which has 

 neither beauty nor hardly any smell, is attended 

 with the same trouble as there is in cultivating a 

 good one ; and, in the present greatly improved state 

 of both, there is no difficulty to select good ones. 



But the thorough-bred florist, who derives pleasure 

 from the pursuit, and who has always the flower- 

 fever strong upon him ; \vho has rivals to contend 

 with ; who is incited by the love of fame, and the 

 hope of winning the first splendid prize at some 

 exhibition ; who will walk fifty miles to catch a 

 glimpse of some new celebrated flower, and who, if 

 it meets his fancy, will sooner pawn the coat from off 

 his back, than not obtain it; who will leave his warm 

 and comfortable bed at midnight, to rise and destroy 

 the cursed earwigs, that shall dare to attack his 



