THE CARNATION. 



which, according to Pliny, were carried by the Ro- 

 man matrons in their funeral processions : 

 ' Purpureos spargam flores.' VIRGIL. 



The only part of the year in which it could be 

 viewed with any degree of satisfaction was the winter, 

 as giving rise to a pleasing association of ideas, in 

 beholding these retain their green verdure and cloth- 

 ing at a time when the rest of the surrounding trees 

 were stripped naked and bare. 



In addition to what I have already stated, I can- 

 not help making mention of a large bed of Holly- 

 hocks (the Alcea Rosea, a native of China), which I 

 noticed some few years ago in the gardens of Messrs. 

 Lee and Kennedy, of Hammersmith. I think I 

 counted in the bed fourteen distinct varieties of this 

 beautiful species, of tall and short growth; the flowers 

 were all double, and the effect produced by them was 

 grand beyond description. 



The immense number of rose-shaped blossoms, 

 and the strong contrast of their shades and colours 

 white, yellow, red, crimson, brown, black, &c., ar- 



