Rcviarks 07i the Pink Fafnily. 26(^ 



dresses of the " worshippers " at the present time. But let us leave this 

 subject to be decided by the consciences of the gayly dressed, and resume 

 the subject of pinks. "The pink," Loudon says, ''as a florists' flower, is 

 of much less antiquity than the carnation : it is scarcely mentioned by 

 Gerarde ; and Parkinson has given \'ery few varieties. It was chiefly grown 

 as a border-flower till within the last " eighty years, " since which time it 

 has been greatly improved, and many fine varieties originated. Being one 

 of the hardiest and least expensive of fine flowers, it is much cultivated by 

 operative mechanics and manufacturers round large towns, and nowhere 

 to such an extent as about Paisley, by the muslin-weavers there. The 

 Paisley growers reckon above three hundred varieties of the pheasant's- 

 eyes." " The propagation and cultivation of the pink are the same as that 

 of the carnation, excepting that it is less frequently kept in pots or frames, 

 but planted in beds of fresh loamy soil, and the small side-shoots reduced 

 in the autumn in order to throw more strength into those intended to pro- 

 duce flowers the following season. Some cover their pink-beds with an 

 awning. Not more than eight or ten flowers are ever allowed to expand 

 on one plant ; and these, if they have a tendency to bursting at the calyx, 

 are to be tied as in carnation culture." 



All the varieties of the pheasant-eyed pink flower the last of June in this 

 climate. The improved varieties are known among us as " Paisley Pinks." 

 MacMahon gives " a description of the properties of a fine double pink " as 

 follows : " The stem should be strong and erect, and not less than twelve 

 inches high ; the calyx rather smaller and shorter, but nearly similar in 

 form and proportion to that of a carnation, as well as the formation of the 

 flower, which should not be less than two inches and a half in diameter. 



" The petals should be numerous, large, broad, and substantial, and have 

 very finely fringed or serrated edges, free from large, coarse, deep notches 

 or indentures : in short, they approach nearest to perfection when the 

 fringe on the edge is so fine as to be scarcely discernible ; but it would be 

 a very desirable object to obtain them perfectly rose-leaved, that is, with- 

 out any fringe at all. 



" The broadest part of the lamina, or broad end of the petals, should be 

 perfectly white and distinct from the eye, unless it be ornamented by a 

 continuation of the color of the eye round it, bold, clean, and distinct ; 



