CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES. 



321 



Classification of Carnations. 



Florists' carnations are divided into classes as follows : — (1) Scarlet Bizarres ; 

 (2) Crimson Bizarres; (3) Pink and Purple Bizarres; (4) Purple Plakes; (5) Scarlet 

 Flakes ; (6) Eose Flakes ; and (7) Selfs. We will first give a few points that are 

 applicable to all, and then take each class separately. 



The stem of the plant ought to be 

 stout, and support the flowers erectly. 

 The flower should be from 2^ to 3 

 inches in diameter, the guard, or lower 

 petals, not less than six in number, 

 these rising half an inch above the 

 calyx before they reflex, and must be 

 broad, thick, and smooth on the out- 

 side. The inner petals should not be 

 overcrowded (the removal of any that 

 are superfluous or malformed being 

 permissible), each layer smaller than 

 those below it; and in a perfect flower 

 there would be five or six layers regu- 

 larly disposed, and gradually becoming 

 fuller in the centre. The illustration 

 shows the markings of a carnation; 

 for those of a picotee see page 327. 



The strict florist is particular as 

 to the edges of the petals, which 

 must not be notched or serrated. 

 The ground colour should be pure 

 white, without specks of any kind; 



the stripes of colour clear, bright, and distinct — not running into each other — and 

 the stronger the contrast any two afford the better. The calyx, or pod, ought to 

 be long and large, to enable the flower to open without bursting it, though it cannot 

 be denied that in the case of many of the best varieties the calyx requires to be tied or 

 strengthened with an elastic band near the centre, opening the upper part of the 

 calyx down to this. Descriptions of the above classes follow. 



VOL. I. XT 



Fig. 147. A Bizarre Carnation. 



