150 OUR ROCK-GARDEN 



seedlings that we have reared elsewhere. * The 

 seeds or seedlings must be well watered until a 

 good growth is made, but when fairly established 

 the plant has a most persistent vitality and thrives 

 vigorously under drought, searching winds, and other 

 hard conditions. 



By the older writers the plant is often called the 

 gilliflower, though this, in the erratic spelling of 

 early days, may appear as gyllofer, gillofloure, 

 gilofre, jereflour, jelliflower, goriofilus, and other 

 strange variations, all yet having their origin in the 

 Latin caryophyllum, a clove, from the rich fragrance 

 of the flower. 2 ' Gariophilus, his floure, of al other 

 flowres is most sweete in smell," declares Maplet,3 

 and though comparisons are generally regarded as 

 being odious, we feel strongly inclined to agree 

 with him. Venner, in his "Via Recta," tells us that 

 "as gillow floures are in beauty and sweetnesse, 

 so they are in vertue and wholsomnesse. They 

 notably comfort the heart, delight the braine and 



1 Those who care to travel beyond the wildling, the wall- 

 flower as nature made it, may obtain from the florist many 

 excellent varieties. Amongst brilliant yellows will be found 

 the Belvoir castle, Tom Thumb, or golden king. Ruby gem is 

 a rich red, while harbinger has large showy flowers of orange 

 and rusty red. Vulcan, eastern queen, and old gold are also 

 very good. 



2 It will be recalled that one kind of carnation is called a 

 clove, and from the same reason, its rich, aromatic odour. 



3 " A Greene Forest," 1567. 



