184 CULTIVATION. 



must be repeated. This should always be done 

 in fine serene weather, and care should be taken 

 to defend the impregnated flower from rain and 

 mists." — Annates de la Soc. Hort. Paris, 



The cultivation and improvement of this 

 highly and universally esteemed flower has been 

 greatly extended within these last few years, and 

 the new varieties are wonderfully fine ; some of 

 them even vying with the carnation : still there 

 is room for further improvement. 



Description of a fine double pink, — "The stem 

 should be strong, elastic, and erect, and not 

 less than twelve inches high. The calyx rather 

 smaller and shorter, but nearly similar in form 

 and proportion to that of a carnation ; the flower 

 should be also similar in form, and not less than 

 two and a half inches diameter. 



" The petals should be large, broad, and sub- 

 stantial, and have very fine fringed or serrated 

 edges, free from large, coarse, deep notches or 

 indentures; in short, they approach nearest to 

 perfection when the fringe or the edge is so fine 



