Remarks on the Pink Family. 201 



finely formed, and free from serrature ; full in centre ; color creamy white, 

 beautifully edged with crimson ; very fragrant ; equal to the foreign high- 

 breds in beauty, and far surpassing them in strong, robust habit. 



" Augusta. — Flower of good size ; petals smooth, nearly free from serra- 

 ture ; outline good ; never bursts ; remarkably free, and very fragrant ; 

 color a dark purple ; stalk two feet, vigorous and very hardy." 



The following directions for preparing a compost for carnations and pinks, 

 and a description of the properties of a fine double carnation, is taken from 

 " The American Garden Calendar," a very useful and comprehensive work, 

 containing about seven hundred pages, published by Bernard M'Mahon, 

 nursery seedsman and florist, Philadelphia, in 1806. Probably these direc- 

 tions were taken from English works, but are as valuable for this country 

 and the present time as for the past and for any other place. 



" Co.MPOST. — The proper compost for these flowers is as follows : One- 

 half fresh, sound loamy earth, taken from the surface of a rich pasture- 

 ground, turf and all, not more than four or five inches deep ; one-third or 

 a little more of old horse-dung, such as has been a year previously used for 

 hot-beds ; one-si.xth coarse sea or river sand. 



" These insrredients ou^ht to have been mixed together in autumn, laid 

 in a heap about two feet thick in an open exposure, and turned three or 

 four times during winter (if you can), so that all parts may be well incor- 

 porated, and have the benefit of the frosts. ' Early in March, it should be 

 gathered into a round, conical heap, to drain and to become dry ; and 

 when sufficiently so, and wanted for use, pass it through a coarse screen or 

 sieve to reduce its parts, and take out stones or any other extraneous sub- 

 stance which it contains." The same compost will be good for pinks and 

 various other plants. 



" Properties of a Fine Variegated Double Carnation. — The stem 

 should be tall, strong, and straight, not less than thirty nor more than forty- 

 five inches high. The flower should be at least three inches in diameter, 

 and the petals well formed, — neither so many as to appear crowded, nor 

 so few as to appear thin. The lower or outer circle of petals, commonly 

 called the guard-leaves, should be particularly substantial : they should rise 

 perpendicularly about half an inch above the calyx, and then turn off grace- 

 fully in a horizontal direction, supporting the interior petals, which should 



