THE CARNATION. 79 



spotted leaves and indented edges, from the society 

 of the Carnation altogether, lest the farina or pollen 

 of the Picotee should become impregnated with that 

 of the Carnation, and so spoil its breed. This opi- 

 nion seems generally to prevail, and I am not pre- 

 pared with any argument that can counteract it. 



For my part, however, no such consideration shall 

 ever induce me to exclude from the garden, or to 

 forego the pleasure of beholding, the varied, the 

 fanciful, and beautiful blossom of the Picote'e, which 

 presents itself in all the delicate and softer tints of 

 the Carnation, not indeed disposed with that precise- 

 ness and regularity, but pencilled and marked by the 

 inimitable hand of Nature in her more sportive 

 mood : at one time, on a snow-white ground, a vast 

 profusion of small, irregular spots appear red, 

 black, or purple ; at another, a few straight lines or 

 dashes of the pencil only are seen on some of the 

 larger petals; then a fanciful mixture of both to- 

 gether, most beautifully blended ; at another time, 

 the edges or extremity only of the flower-leaves shall 

 be tinged and laced all round, or the whole covered 



