C A It N A T ION C 0 X F E R E X C E . 



4G0 



years before the seeds had arrived from China, it is clear that the 



Indian Pink of Liger was a different plant. 



Lastly, I will speak of the origin of the Carnation. The wild 



species from which the cultivated Carnations are derived is the 



D. CaryopJiyllus of Linnaeus. This does not appear to have been 



known to the ancients, for we have no mention of it by any of 



the Eoman poets ; nor is it anywhere referred to by Pliny. We 



learn from Chaucer, who calls it "Clove gilofre" or ''Clove 



girofle," that it was cultivated in this country as early as the 



reign of Edward III., and that it was used to give a spicy flavour 



to ale and wine. He writes in one of his poems : — 



Ther springen herbes grete and smale, 

 The hcoris and the setewale, 

 And many a clove gilofre, 



to put in ale, 



Whether it be moist or stale. 



The next reference to it is by Manfredus de Monte Imperiali, 

 who includes it in his group of " Tunici." Jacobus de Manlis 

 indicated its habitat in Lombardy, growing under conditions 

 which rendered its introduction very improbable, in a locality 

 in which it is to be found also at the present time. It was first 

 called " Carnation " by Lyte in his translation of Dodoens' work, 

 which translation was published in 1578. Edmund Spenser calls 

 the flower " Coronation," which is perhaps a corruption, and 

 not, as some of the old books on gardening say, because they 

 were much used on those and other festive occasions. In the 

 " Shepheard's- Calendar " we read : — 



Bring hither the Pincke and purple Cullambine, 

 With Gelliflowres ; 



Bring Coronations, and Sops-in-\vine, 

 Worn of paramours. 



The flowers of this species were formerly employed in medicine. 

 The old physicians considered them cordial, and administered 

 the infusion in pestilential fevers and nervous complaints. They 

 must, however, have dropped out of the pharmacopoeia in 

 Gerard's time, for he says : " They are not used in physick, but 

 esteemed for their use in garlands and nosegaies. They are good 

 to put into vinegar to give it a pleasant taste and gallant odour. 

 The conserve made of the flowers of the Clove Gilloflower and 

 sugar is exceeding cordial!, and wonderfully above measure doth 

 comfort the heart, being eaten now and then." He also tells us 



