THE CARNATION. 75 



pectancy of much seed ; it is the semi-double flowers 

 that yield the most. In the year 1818, more seed, 

 I believe, was saved that summer than in any seven 

 preceding put together ; it was excessively hot, and 

 the heat continued till the autumn. There is hardly 

 a Carnation-grower in the country that has not 

 raised seedling-plants from seed saved that summer ; 

 but as it is two years before they bloom, he will have 

 to wait till the ensuing summer before he can have 

 an opportunity of ascertaining their worth. 



The Carnation is a variable flower, and the incon- 

 stancy of its seed is equal only to the variety pro- 

 duced from it. It is said, but I know not with what 

 truth, that seed out of the same pod will produce 

 flowers of all the different varieties flakes, bizarres, 

 &c., both single, semi-double, and double. Several 

 superior flowers have been produced from seed saved 

 from Gregory's King Alfred, Lacey's Marquis of 

 Wellesley, Crump's Lord Rodney, Butts 's Lord 

 Rodney, Stoniard's Britannia, Bearliss's Sir G. 

 Osborn, Onion's Trafalgar, &c. 



If you perceive the pericarpium or seed vessel to 



E 2 



