/ 
i8 INTRODUCTION. 
It is afferted, however, by forae, that 
the Polyanthus is a native of Turkey,, 
where it may {till be found in great 
■4 
beauty, &c. f To whatever plant it owes 
its origin, its prefent highly improved 
{late is doubtlefs the effe6l of long and 
affiduous culture, which, like the Auri¬ 
cula, Carnation, and Pink, has been 
chiefly confined to this country. The 
beautiful yellow of the Cowflip, which 
it did not formerly poflefs in the fame 
degree of perfection it now does, has, in 
the opinion of fome, been communicated 
to it, within the prefent century, by 
impregnation; it has likewife received 
very confiderable improvement in its 
other properties, within the lafl twenty or 
thirty years; and the forts known fifty , 
years ago are not now in cultivation, being 
f Vide Hanbury’s Complete Body of Planting and 
Gardening, printed at London, 1771 and 1772. 
neglected 
