178 CULTIVATION. 



ditto of lime rubbish or old plaster broken small, 

 to be prepared and well mixed together." 



; Of this compost I have only to observe, that 

 the cow-dung had better be left out ; for, though 

 it may improve the high colours of scarlet and 

 crimson bizarres, it will be likely to cause some 

 of them to go back to their original hue. 



Of the picotee. — The picotee is another variety 

 of the clove. It is hardier, and more easy of 

 cultivation generally, than the carnation ; and 

 holds the middle station betvveen this and the 

 pink. It partakes of the nature of both ; and it 

 may not be a very irrational supposition, that it 

 was originally a joint production between them ; 

 though, probably, the picotee was in existence 

 before the carnation; and, if so, is more likely to 

 have been " a sport" between the clove and the 

 pink. Be this as it may, it is a very interesting 

 variety of the genus, and though not allowed a 

 place among carnations, lest it should deterio- 

 rate their forms and colours, it is still every way 

 worthy to receive a share of their treatment, 

 with which it will do well. 



