The Origin and Early History of the Carnation 



When the carnation became a "florists' flower" in England it is difficult 

 to state, but it must have been prior to Shakespeare's time, because Gerarde 

 says, of the sorts of cloves, carnations and pinks : "A large volume would not 

 suffice to write of every one . . . particularly considering how every 

 year and every climate and country bringeth forth new sorts, and such as 



The original single Carnation and its development into a double flower 



1 Original 5-petaled flower 2 One petal added 



3 Several petals added 4 A nearly double flower 



5 Flower fully double but not increased in size 



have not heretofore been written of;" a remark which will well apply to 

 modern conditions. 



The carnation has been in cultivation for more than 2,000 years, and in 

 early Greek history was also mentioned under the name of gilliflower. The- 

 ophrastus, in his history of plants, says : "The Greeks cultivated roses, gilli- 

 flowers, violets, narcissi and iris ;" the gilliflower, as has been shown, being the 



