, CARNATIONS. 247 



1. Flakes, having one colour on a white ground, 

 and which appears on both sides of the petal ; 2. 

 Bizarres, having two colours on a white ground; 

 3. Piquettees, ground white or yellow spotted with 

 other colours, and the edges of the petals fringelike 

 or serrated; and 4. Painted-ladies, the colour being- 

 only on the upper surface of the petals, the sar- 

 castic name, it is hoped, may soon be banished. 

 The carnation, according to critics, should have a 

 strong three-feet stem, like a cane arrow; the flower 

 three inches in diameter, and opening equally on 

 all sides: the burstlike appearance, owing to defect 

 of constitution, which it often assumes, is ruinous 

 of all character; and hence the vile trick amongst 

 competitors of tying the neck with a thread up to 

 the very day of exhibition. Any thing like fringe 

 on the edge of a petal is not to be looked at. If 

 polling might pass for natural roundness, the scis- 

 sors would as certainly be applied to the fringe as 

 to the feathers of a game cock before fighting. The 

 petals should be as thick as to give the richness of 

 a double flower, but without the crowding that 

 causes weakness, and should regularly decrease in 

 breadth as they approach the centre, forming an 

 elegant crownlike figure, rolled in at the circum- 

 ference, and almost level on the top. The colours 

 should be bright and distinct, the stripes narrow- 

 ing with the petals towards the base, and leaving 

 one half to the ground colour without spot or mark. 

 The best soil for carnations is good loam enriched 

 with well rooted stable dung and quickened with a 



