228 Retrograde Varieties 



which are arranged in opposite pairs and there- 

 fore constitute four rows. 



In this variety the flower is suppressed and 

 this loss is attended by a corresponding in- 

 crease of the number of the pairs of bracts. 

 This malformation results in square spikes or 

 somewhat elongated heads consisting only of 

 the greenish bracts. As there are no flowers, 

 the variety is quite sterile, and as it is not re- 

 garded by horticulturists as an improvement on 

 the ordinary bright carnations, it is seldom mul- 

 tiplied by layering. Notwithstanding this, it 

 appears from time to time and has been seen in 

 different countries and at different periods^ 

 and, what is of great importance for us, in dif- 

 ferent strains of carnations. Though sterile, 

 and obviously dying out as often as it springs 

 into existence, it is nearly two centuries old. 

 It was described in the begining of the 18th cen- 

 tury by Volckamer, and afterwards by Jaeger, 

 De CandoUe, Weber, Masters, Magnus and 

 many other botanists. I have had it twice, at 

 different times and from different growers. 



So far as I have been able to ascertain re- 

 versions of this curious carnation to normal 

 flowers have not yet been recorded. Such a 

 modification occurred last summer in my gar- 

 den on a plant which had not been divided or 

 layered, but on which the slender branches had 



