154 CULTIVATION. 



severance of the florist, or the astonishing versa- 

 tihty of vegetable power. 



Much has been written on the culture of this 

 universal favourite : and, so universally has it been 

 cultivated in Europe, that the management has 

 long ago been reduced into a code of practical 

 rules. The rich spicy fragrance of the flower 

 was, no doubt, originally an easy passport for it 

 to a distinguished place in the parterre. There, 

 it would naturally become, under ordinary treat- 

 ment, more robust in habit; its seedlings would 

 soon partake of this luxuriance ; the flowers 

 would next become exuberant; hence would ap_ 

 pear the rich-coloured and odorous clove. Con- 

 tinued cultivation, by change of soil and situa- 

 tion, would break its self-colour into lighter tints, 

 and, by progressive grades of variation, become, 

 what we now find it, the admirable carnation. It 

 is said that the variegated clove first appeared in 

 Italy ; but, though much cultivated there, as well 

 as along the whole northern coast of the Mediter- 

 ranean, it is certain the more indefatigable florists 

 of France, Holland, and England, have chiefly 



