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OUR DIAGRAMS OF THE PICOTEE AND CARXATIOX. 
rhizome. This species attains the height of a foot and a half in its native locality. Rhizome scaly and creeping. 
2. E. crassincrve, Kunze. — An evergreen stove fern, from the West Indies. Sterile fronds glabrous, oblong- 
ovate, bluntly acuminate, from twelve to eighteen inches long, attenuated at the base, thick and coriaceous, 
undulated, dull green. Fertile fronds oblong-ovate, one foot high, attenuated at the base. Both forms are arti- 
culated near the base of the stipes, and are lateral on a scaly short creeping rhizome. 
3. E. callafolium, J. Smith : Blume. — A glabrous evergreen stove species, from Java. Sterile fronds ovate, or 
oblong-acuminate, a foot or more long, coriaceous, deep green, shining, undulated, roundish or somewhat attenuated 
at the base ; rachis and stipes of a dark purple beneath. Fertile fronds erect, ovate-elliptical, acuminate, one foot 
high. Both forms are articulated near the rhizome, which is scaly and creeping. 
4. E. longifolitim, J. Smith : Jacquin. — A glabrous evergreen stove fern, from the West Indies. Sterile fronds 
coriaceous, bright green, lanceolate-acuminate, one to one and a half foot long, slightly undulated, attenuated at 
the base. Fertile fronds erect, lanceolate-acuminate, one to one and a half foot high, attenuated at the base 
Both articulated near the base of the stipes ; lateral, on a scaly creeping rhizome. 
5. E. scolopaiilrifolium, J. Smith : Baddi. — An ornamental evergreen stove species, from Brazil. Sterile fronds 
oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, twelve to fifteen inches long, undulated, pale green, with stipes one third the length 
of the frond ; stipes, rachis and margin of frond covered with fimbriate-acuminate cordate brown scales. Fertile 
fronds small, erect, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, one foot long, with a stipes of eight inches. Both forms are 
articulated near the base of the stipes, and are lateral on a short scaly creeping rhizome. 
6. E. vilhsum, J. Smith : Swartz. — An ornamental evergreen stove fern, from Jamaica. Sterile fronds hairy 
oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, undulated, pale green, about a foot long. Fertile frond narrow, oblong-lanceolate, 
acuminate, eight inches long. Both forms are articulated near the base of the stipes, and are lateral, on a scaly 
creeping rhizome. 
7. E. Dombeyantim, Fee. — A scaly stove evergreen species, from South America. Sterile fronds linear-obtuse, 
one foot high, attenuated at the base and densely covered throughout with stellate scales. Fertile fronds 
linear, narrow oblong-lanceolate, one foot high, stipes more than half the length of the frond. Both forms lateral, 
articulated, with a short scaly creeping rhizome. 
OUR DIAGEAMS OF THE PICOTEE AND CARNATION. 
By Mr. G. GLENXY, F.H.S. 
"WRITER in a country periodical has attacked us upon a subject ■which is far beyond the undcr- 
iCV standing of his circumscribed mind, and by attempting to be humorous at our expense, he 
lias made himself appear more than usually ridiculous. Wc premise that the diagrams of the Proper- 
ties of Flowers and Plants are authentic. Whether good, bad, or indifferent, they have passed the 
ordeal of public opinion, and have been acted on many years : the earliest 'were published in 1832. 
After man}' discussions at meetings and on paper, it has been for years conceded by the very best 
florists in the kingdom — 
1. That if a flower could be produced in every way like the model laid down, IT would be 
PERFECTION. 
2. But that it never can he attained. 
3. Therefore, that the flowers which approach nearest must he the best. 
Ever since these properties were laid down, flowers have rapidly advanced ; and although many 
have dabbled in the properties of this that and the other, pretending to some novelty, not a single 
point has been shaken, and the models stand as the guide in all societies. 
We have published a number of diagrams exemplifying the forms laid down in the said properties. 
We profess to be authentic, not new; and the writer in question makes a silly attack upon the Picotee 
and Carnation, which, although described and published many years since, and acted upon by the best 
florists, he pecks at in perfect ignorance of the source, the work he ridicules, and the object. His 
attack may be thus described: First, " he ventures to say" — what the author said many years ago — 
that such forms " never will be attained." A great discovery, truly! But he goes on to say why — 
" And for this very simple reason " (simple enough !) " the petals in the same tier are of two widths " 
(not true, by-the-by — but that's nothing), "and this is a freak or law which nature never will adopt] 
I'll warrant." Nature is fortunate in being able to find such a security for her good behaviour ; hut 
the writer is unfortunate. Nature is more addicted to irregularities in the Dianthus tribe than in most 
others, and plays all manner of antics with the guard petals ; sometimes poking them up in the midst 
of the little ones, and sometimes producing the little ones below. In fact, the tiers of petals in 
Carnations and l'icotces comprise just such as the florist thinks fit to put there. Bowever, all tins is 
beside the mark, and only shows the profound ignorance of anybody who would become bail for Dame 
Nature never adopting petals of two different widths hi the same tier. We have found that she rarely 
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