July 29. 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
F3 
S9 
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Salisbury Show. 
30 
p 
SI 
s 
Sontbaropton Show (two days). 
1 
SUN 
6tii Sunday after Trinity. 
‘2 
M 
Bank Holiday. 
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W 
CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES. 
ULY-FLOWER is an erroneous rendering of the 
Gilloflower or Gilliflower of the old writers ; but 
though it originated in mistaking the anglicised 
form of the French Girofle or Giroflee for the 
correct name, the title is to some extent an 
appropriate one, for with very little variation we 
have our Carnations and Picotees at their best 
from the middle to the end of July. Following 
the Roses so closely, flowers of less beauty would 
suffer greatly by the comparison, but if the Carnations can¬ 
not equal their regal predecessors in imposing attractions, 
they yet possess very much to recommend them. Rich, bright, 
soft, and delicate tints are represented ; in the more refined 
varieties the florist obtains that symmetry of form which is 
requisite to satisfy his critical eye; the garden lover who does 
not strive after such exactitude is delighted with the fragrance 
and beauty of more robust varieties ; and the gardener finds 
the plants invaluable as affording an abundant supply of 
flowers acceptable to all, useful for buttonholes, bouquets, or 
vases, and possessing the important quality of great durability 
when cut. The whole group of Carnations, Picotees, and 
Pinks constitute one of the most useful series of garden plants, 
for with the Tree or Perpetual Carnations now grown so 
extensively under glass, we secure flowers throughout a great 
portion of the year, and it is not surprising that they are 
rapidly gaining more admirers, especially in the neighbour¬ 
hood of towns where plants that will succeed are so restricted 
in numbers. 
There is some uncertainty in the early history of the 
Carnation, as indeed there is in that of most cultivated 
plants ; but the earliest mention we have seems to refer to 
the Clove Carnation, the spicy fragrance and rich dark colour 
of which render it a favourite in many gardens. The old 
poets, Chaucer and Spenser, notice the “ Sops in Wine,” a 
popular name applied to this plant from the fact of the flowers 
being used to impart an agreeable flavour to wine and other 
beverages. “ Coronations ” was another designation that 
appears to have been applied to these plants, and some have 
thought the more modern title of Carnation was derived f rom 
this source ; but whereas in the case of the Clove the name 
indicates the distinctive fragrance, in the Carnation it has 
reference to the colour or what was probably the prevailing 
tint of the earliest varieties—viz., a flesh or pinkish hue, 
something like we have now in that charming variety Miss 
Jolliffe. When the Clove Carnation was first cultivated in 
England I do nut know, but the introduction of the other 
Carnations seems to date from the middle of the sixteenth 
century—at least, we have it on the authority of Stow that 
they were brought here from the Low Countries in 15G7. 
Thirty years later Gerard’s “Herball” appeared, and in 
that several varieties of Carnations and Gilloflowers were 
described, their introduction being ascribed to a Master 
Nicholas Lete. Then followed Parkinson’s works, in which 
many forms were enumerated, and it seems that the plants 
No. 318 .—Vol. XIII., Third Series. 
were then finding their way into the gardens of many persons, 
for they are mentioned in some of Shakspeare’s plays in a 
manner that implied they were by no means strangers. Their 
numbers must have been very rapidly increased, either by 
seedlings or introductions, for in 1676 Rea gives 360 varieties, 
considerably more than are named in catalogues of the present 
time. As garden plants they undoubtedly steadily advanced 
in popularity, but it was not until many years later that 
special attention was paid to them by the florists, and the 
real history of the plants commenced. 
At the end of the eighteenth and the commencement of 
the nineteenth century professional and trade growers were 
increasing, and a race of varieties of Carnations and Picotees 
distinguished by their refinement of form and colour was 
gradually constituted. Early in the nineteenth century Mr. 
Hogg of Paddington became noted as a cultivator and raiser 
of these plants, and in 1820 he issued a work which embodied 
the principles of his practice, together with much of a gene¬ 
rally interesting character in reference to exhibiting Carna¬ 
tions and Picotees. A short time ago I was fortunate enough 
to procure a copy of this book that had been originally in the 
possession of W. B. Williams, M.A., of Ilomerton, who was 
a devoted admirer of Carnations, and had grown them for 
forty years. The book is interleaved, and abounds in manu¬ 
script notes elucidating the culture, or with apposite quota¬ 
tions and remarks of a general character that testify to the 
observation and knowledge of the writer. Thus, appended to 
the chapter on “ the description of a fine Carnation ” is the 
following note, that appears to me worthy of reproduction. 
“ There is no doubt that whilst we are indebted originally to 
the Dutch and Flemings for the improvement of the Tulip, 
Hyacinth, and other bulbous roots, the French (whatever they 
may be now) were much before us in the cultivation of the 
Carnation. The old English flowers, and in such estimation 
with our forefathers, were chiefly what is termed ‘ Burstins,’ 
and one double pod made, we are told, a very grand display, 
but these are entirely superseded by the superior properties of 
the ‘ French Flakes,’ as they were first called. It may not 
be irrelevant to give the estimate as to the properties of a 
fine flower which our neighbours bad about one hundred years 
since. ‘ The Carnation has its stripes formed in the strongest 
opposition to the predominant colour, into which they never 
should be softened They are greatly prized when they have 
a multitude of leaves, because they form a more elegant head. 
It is also much more graceful when the head is beautifully 
rounded than when it is only flat. Too great a number of 
spots is a deficiency as it creates confusion in the flower, and 
when indented instead of being properly arched or round, the 
whole makes a wretched appearance.’ ” This quotation must 
refer to a date early in the eighteenth century, if the writer's 
statement be correct that it indicates the standard amongst 
the French florists one hundred years before the publication 
of Hogg’s book, and is therefore especially interesting. 
About 1826 the Shows devoted to Carnations and Picotees, 
or at which they constituted the chief features, became 
numerous, and in “Loudon’s Magazine” of the year 
named are reports of such exhibitions at Lancaster, Man¬ 
chester, Preston, York, Windsor, and Uxbridge, all held from 
July 12th to 21st. At most of these the prizes were offered 
for single specimens of blooms and not for collections, as at 
the National Society’s exhibitions at the present time, yet 
the competition was sometimes very keen and much interest 
was excited. Hogg tells with what eagerness the principal 
London florists would enter the lists at Windsor for instance, 
where they could compete with Mr. Gould, then in charge of 
the Royal Gardens there, and how earnestly they endeavoured 
to defeat him. We could scarcely imagine now seeing Mr. 
Jones, of Frogmore, or Mr. Penny of Sandringham, entering 
the lists of the Carnation Show at South Kensington against 
Mr. J. Douglas or Mr. Turner of Slough; but we can fancy 
how much it would add to the interest of the competition. 
About this time there were several noted growers besides 
No. 1974 —Yol. LXXV., Old Series 
