40 



AA^ ALPHABETICAL LIST OF 



: and they find much favour ; but the crowning charm of all, which 

 we seek too often in vain, is that of scent. All who look for the 

 natural charms of Carnations must surely deplore the want of 

 scent in the modern varieties, and tlie sooner we remedy the evil 

 the better. Carnations doubtless have not become all but scentless 

 at one step. In the improvement of recent years the charm of 

 scent has been ignored or forgotten. This proves how observant 

 and watchful we should be, lest whilst doing good in one direction 

 by developing and bringing out the finer qualities of a flower, we 

 disregard natural charms. It is not predicting too much that in 

 another decade scentless Carnations will be the rule, and a scented 

 kind a ver}^ rare exception. This must happen if we rely on those 

 w^ho keep on raising new kinds from a scentless source. A little 

 w^holesome agitation did much good in bringing to the front the 

 merits of Self Carnations, and now that we are satisfied upon the 

 point, and convinced by results of trials, let us agitate for scented 

 Carnations. We shall not be successful, perhaps, in inducing the 

 orthodox florist to make the slightest deviation from his narrow 

 w'ay, but the love of Carnations is making headway. ^lany of its 

 lovers liave no aspirations beyond fully enjoj^ing and appreciating 

 the flower, and to these we must look. 



Of the hardy perennial section of single Dianthus we may name 

 D. ccesius, the cheddar Pink, D. plumosus, D. monsjjeliacuSi D. 

 amentus, D. fragrans, and D. siqjtrhus as fragrant representatives. 



The Sweet William, D. harhafus, is a member of this extensive 

 family, some of the old-fashioned strains possess a spicy odour, 

 that is almost void in the giant forms of modern days. 



A present century poet has left us the following beautiful lines 

 on this dainty flower : — 



' In fair Anglia's bosom boru, 



Diaiitlins spreads his fringed array, 

 And glowing 'mid the purpled morn, 

 Adds fragrance to the new-born day. 



Sweet flower beneath a cloudless sky, 



Such favouring smiles thy scents invite ; 

 To all the world's fair region fly 



And paint their gardens with delight.' 



Dicentra Canadensis (American Squirrel Corn). — An herbaceous plant, 



with fragrant flowers. Allied to the Dlt>ytra. 

 Dicksonia punctilobula. — An American hardy fern with odorous 



attractions. 



Dictamnus Fraxinella (Dittany or Burning Bush). — A singularly 

 beautiful and interesting hardy herbaceous perennial, native of 



