THE CARNATION IN SCOTLAND. 
353 
on signals. This principle — that the life of plants, like that of 
animals, is a series of responses to stimuli — is a conception 
really old enough, but which, curiously enough, has only become 
a canon of plant physiology within the last fifteen years. It has 
proved to be a conception of the greatest value, and I cannot 
doubt that the phenomena of etiolation will be brought within 
its scope, nor can I doubt that this must be done along the lines 
suggested by Godlewski, although further inquiry and research, 
may doubtless suggest modifications. 
THE CARNATION IN SCOTLAND. 
By Mr. R. P. Brothekston. 
[Read July 23, 1895.] 
A CHARMING description of the Carnation is that given by 
William Lawson, a Yorkshire gentleman who lived in the latter 
part of the sixteenth century, and who published manuals on 
fruit culture, on bees, and on flowers and vegetables. The 
edition from which I quote is a black-letter one, dated 1617 ; 
but there was one twenty years earlier, and I have also seen 
another, a later one, of the middle of the seventeenth century^ 
bound up with " Markham's Husbandry." (In passing, it may be 
noted that Markham advocated wooden hives for bees, while 
Lawson preferred straw skeps.) This is what he writes in " The 
Countrie Housewife's Garden " concerning the Carnation : — 
" July flowres, commonly called Gillyflowres, or, Clove-Jully- 
flowres (I call them so because they flower in July), they have 
the name of Clove of their sent. I may well call them the 
King of Flowres (except the Rose), and the best sort of them 
are called Queene-July-flowres. I have of them 9 or 10, 
severall coleurs, and divers of them as bigge as Roses ; of all 
flowres (save the Damaske Rose) they are the most pleasant to 
sight and smell Their use is much in ornament and 
comforting the spirites by the sense of smelling." He advises 
the renewal of Carnation plants ''every third or fourth year by 
means of ' slippes,' of which, owing to their tender nature," he is 
careful to note, " they must not be twisted," a common practice 
