THE FLORIST. 
319 
true one—the want of spirit and energy in Carnation-growers to 
overcome its natural imperfection — a merely notched or striped 
petal! Reflecting on the difficulties which the Pansy and the Dahlia 
cultivators have overcome in their favourite flowers, let us, with 
confusion of face, turn from the subject, nor hint one word of com¬ 
parison ! 
The question has been ably mooted in The Florist, to whom does 
the duty of raising and improving varieties of florist’s flowers rightly 
belong—to the amateur, or to the professional florist. In the spirit * 
of Sir Roger de Coverley, in the Spectator, who was in the friendly 
habit of thus settling the disputes of his neighbours, I would reply, 
that “ a great deal may be said on both sides,” yet would recom¬ 
mend professional florists not to rest contented with imitating the 
piety of the countryman, who, on his knees, entreated Jupiter to 
help him out with his cart-wheel—let their own shoulders be applied. 
Of amateurs it may be observed, that they really know not half the 
pleasures of floriculture who neglect the raising of seedlings. But 
there is something more than this; there is a chivalrous feeling of 
the esprit du corps , amounting, in certain instances, to a duty, which 
should urge them onward to accomplish an aim; as, for example, the 
obliteration of such defects as compass the neglect of the flower 
whose claims I now seek to advocate. 
To the amateur, moreover, the path to success is a more easy 
one; for he grows only the most select varieties, and his comparative 
leisure or taste leads him to cross, by artificial means, these finest 
sorts, and thus seed of the best quality is obtained. The profes¬ 
sional florist, on the other hand, of necessity keeps a large and mis¬ 
cellaneous collection, and his time is more fully engaged, so that he 
trusts chiefly to the peripatetic labours of the bee, or other insects, 
for his chance of seed ; and hence the kind of pollen applied, and the 
quality of the seed, are of more uncertain character. 
But there are ever to be found certain quiet, easy people, who, 
dreamily living out their three score years and ten, would rather 
forego the possession or enjoyment of a good or pleasure than make 
one effort of their own for its attainment. It is not to such we must 
look for improvement in this flower, nor, indeed, for advancement in 
any other of the more important things of life; leave we such men 
to their quiet repose in their own blissful dreamland ! 
But other minds there are, to whom a difficulty or obstacle in 
their pursuit but whets the spirit to keener edge to encounter and 
to overcome it. That there are men of such a mould amongst the 
rank of florists, the improvements effected in the race of other flowers 
honourably and amply testify ; but our Carnation-growers “ do lack 
that spirit which is in Antony;” there is a lion in their path; the 
very bristling of a notched petal! If it is indeed come to this, why, 
then, be it so—be the Yellow Picotee discarded ; but let justice also 
compel the confession, that it is not because of its insusceptibility of 
improvement, for the contrary is established ; not because of its want 
of attraction and beauty, for these are undeniable and admitted ; not 
because of its want of patronage by purchasers, for its imperfections 
