The Pink. 31 



made him think it was so. One night, unable to sleep, he 

 wished to rise, but was then told it was midnight. " Well," replied 

 he, " I will have it day." The Dianthus Proliffr — Garden- 

 Pink, is in the class Decandria ; order Digynia. The generic 

 name is from the Greek, meaning divine flower, so named from 

 its pre-eminent beauty and fragrance ; it is characterized by the 

 inferior cylindrical calyx, one-leaved, with four or eight scales at 

 the base ; petals five, with claws ; capsule cylindrical, one-celled, 

 opening at the top. Our species is the pretty pink- flowered 

 annual, occasionally found in gravelly pastures, with the flowers 

 clustered in heads. This plant is a native of Africa ; it had found 

 its way into Spain at the time of Augustus Caesar ; it was taken 

 from Biscay by the conquering legions he sent there to put down 

 a rebellion, and by them conveyed to Rome, where it was a 

 great favorite, and was universally worn in the chaplets of fra- 

 grant blossoms at meal times ; from whence it was disseminated 

 throughout Europe. It was early introduced into our own coun- 

 try, and is now in its palmiest days. Its true origin not being 

 generally known, Shaw, an English poet, considered it a native 

 of Italy, where at present it is little valued, as the modern 

 Italians hold perfumes in aversion : in the following lines he 

 alludes to both ideas. 



In fair Italia's bosom born 



Dianthus spreads his fringed ray, 

 And glowing 'mid the purpled morn, 



Adds fragrance to the new born day. 



Oft by some mould'ring time-worn tower, 



Or classic stream he loves to rove, 

 Where dancing nymphs, and satyrs blithe, 



Once listened to the notes of Love. 



Sweet flower, beneath thy natal sky, 



No fav'ring smiles thy scents invite; 

 To Britain's worthier regions fly 



And paint her meadows with delight. 



It is the emblem of Lively and Pure Affection. Mary Rob- 

 inson sings — 



Each pink sends forth its choicest sweet, 

 Aurora's icarm embrace to meet. 



It has no medicinal properties that entide it to much considera- 

 tion. Phillips says, that the new varieties can only be raised 



