" ALLWOODII " 59 



individual intrinsic merits as Dianthus Allwoodii, and not as a 

 carnation. It is not going, it is not intended to, take the place of 

 the carnation, especially of the border varieties, but it may fairly 

 take its place beside them. It may be, nay it is, equally valuable. 

 The perpetual carnation surpasses it for continuity of bloom ; 

 the border carnation remains above it in form and substance ; 

 both surpass it, as yet, in their delightful range of colour, and 

 these are important points to which we attach their fullest value. 

 We want to be quite level-headed in this matter, not allowing 

 our admiration to run away with our reason, but with a due sense 

 of proportion to accord to each class those merits and that position 

 which indisputably belongs to it. With us, personal preferences 

 do not count ; even sentiment, though it will obtrude itself at 

 times, is at a discount, the only touchstone brought to bear being 

 that of commercial value. This, in turn, rests chiefly on merit. 

 If a thing is really good it will be demanded, and this enhances 

 commercial values. 



Whatever Dianthus Allwoodii may or may not be we cannot 

 deny that it has already become exceedingly popular, first because 

 of its utility and beauty, and secondly because it is a genuine 

 novelty and is proving itself to be all that its raisers claim for it. 

 The rate at which it is now being propagated and distributed is a 

 sure guarantee that by and by there will scarcely be a garden in 

 Great Britain without it ; that it will become as familiar to the 

 mansion and the cottage as either of its parents, and that being 

 so it commends itself as a subject to be exploited by the Trade, to 

 which the general public will naturally look for its supplies. 



