50 
THE FLORISTS JOURNAL. 
Wherever it originated, or by whomsoever it was introduced, 
the Carnation is a very old favourite, on account both of the rich¬ 
ness and variety of its colours, and the exquisite pungency of its 
scent; and though other flowers have had their day, and gone into 
neglect, it is as great, and deservedly as great, a favourite, both 
with the professional gardener and the amateur, as ever it was. 
Some of our foremost cultivators, among whom we may name 
Mr. Hogg, of Paddington, as standing at the head of his particular 
department, have paid the most intimate, and, if we may say so, 
scientific attention to the culture of this flower, as well for the 
obtaining of new varieties as for the preservation and improve¬ 
ment of favourites already in the field. But although we mention 
Mr. Hogg as standing high in this department of the floricultural 
art, we are far from meaning to say that many others, in all parts 
of the country, do not breed very choice Carnations. 
Carnations are usually divided into three classes—Flakes, 
Bizarres, and Picottees. The flakes have the colours in broad 
stripes, and seldom more than two; white being the ground 
colour, and the second colour any shade from deep purple to the 
palest pink of the peach blossom. Bazaars have usually more 
than two colours, variously broken into stripes ; and the beauty 
of colour in them depends on the proportions of the different 
tints, and the manner in which these are blended and contrasted. 
Picottees are dotted, or marked over with little spots, besides the 
colours which they have in greater breadth ; and a good deal of 
their beauty depends upon the tint and brilliancy of these dottings. 
It is difficult to say which of the three deserves the preference, 
for fine varieties of all are exceedingly beautiful. In addition to 
colour, the flower should be of ample size, the petals finely formed 
and arranged, and the grass or stem supporting the single flower, 
or the truss, or bunchy as it may be, strong, and of a healthy 
colour. 
In growing Carnations to perfection, the first thing to be 
attended to is the soil in which they are grown. In all cases this 
must be an artificial compost, because there is no natural soil in 
this country exactly fit for growing fine Carnations; and if the 
soil is not a profitable one, all the rest of the labour of the culti¬ 
vator is lost. 
The first ingredient to be sought is a proper loam, which should 
be obtained from maiden ground; the top spit only to be taken, 
