"SWEET SUMMER BUDS" 185 



that the Great Harwich is an English institution, 

 just as important as the Roast Beef of Old England 

 or the English Plum Pudding. 



"I take this goodly great old English Carnation," 

 he writes, "as a precedent for the description of all 

 the rest, which for his beauty and stateliness is 

 worthy of a prime place. It riseth up with a great 

 thick, round stalk divided into several branches 

 somewhat thickly set with joints, and at every joint 

 two long green (rather than whitish) leaves, turn- 

 ing, or winding, two or three times round. The 

 flowers stand at the tops of the stalks in long great 

 and round green husks, which are divided into five 

 points, out of which rise many long and broad 

 pointed leaves, deeply jagged at the ends, set in 

 order, round and comely, making a gallant, great 

 double Flower of a deep Carnation color, almost red, 

 spotted with many blush spots and streaks, some 

 greater and some lesser, of an excellent soft, sweet 

 scent, neither too quick, as many others of these 

 kinds are, nor yet too dull; and with two whitish 

 crooked threads, like horns, in the middle. This 

 kind never beareth many flowers; but as it is slow 

 in growing, so in bearing, not to be often handled, 

 which showeth a kind of stateliness fit to preserve 

 the opinion of magnificence." 



