rotting it, either in water, or on the grass by dew and rain. In this
method, pursued in Britain, more seed and a much stronger fibre
are obtained, and the remaining part is used for the food of cattle
or horses. The fibre can be whitened afterwards, and left much
stronger than by the former method.
When flax is rotted in ponds of water, by sinking it several
bundles in thickness upon each other, the water is charged with
deleterious matter so as to kill fishes in the stream below, and to
render the adjacent country unhealthy.
The seed of flax is exceedingly important for its oil, so necessary
in the process of painting, and affording a material relatively
abundant, cheap, and easy of access. It is boiled with
litharge, or oxyde of lead, for the purpose of changing it into an
oil that will readily dry ; the litharge destroying or changing the
nature of the mucilage or gummy part of the seed.
The seed is also valuable for its medicinal character ; emollient,
diuretic.
The use of the pressed seed of flax after the oil is extracted,
as food for horses and cattle, is well known.
L . perenne. L. Common to Europe and Missouri, may be
used to some extent like the preceding.
Most of the 39 species of this genus are found in Europe,
and are far inferior to common Flax for useful purposes. 5 species
grow in the United States, and 3 are indigenous.
ORDER 140. CARYOPHYLLEJE. T he C hickweed
T r ib e .
Calyx 4 or 5 parted, or of 4 or 5 sepals, persistent, aiid petals
of like number, with claws, inserted under the ovary, not
always present; twice as many stamens as petals, sometimes
monadelphous ; ovary superior, on a pedicle, with 2 — 5 stigmas ;
capsule 2 — 5 valved ; leaves entire and opposite, sometimes
connate. The order is named from a splendid and variable species
of Dianthus, the Carnation Pink.
A few of this order bear beautiful flowers ; many are weeds ;
some are saponaceous ; one is said to be anthelmintic, and one is
used for food ; generally of little use, but numerous, and widely
spread over the temperate and colder regions, forming of the
flowering plants of North America, ,T\ of Lapland, of France.
Lindley. The order contains fourteen genera, and a large number
of species, in North America, and is distinguished commonly
into two obvious divisions, of no great consequence in a popular
view of plants, but preserved here for convenience.
1. The sepals united in a tube ; Silenece, from one of the
principal genera.
D ianthus. L. 10. 2. Pink.
So named from the Greek, flower of Jove, to express the
great beauty and fragrance of the flower, especially of the first
species.
D. caryophyllus. L. Carnation. This is found only in flower-
gardens, being an exotic from the south side of the Alps. They
have, been so long cultivated in Europe, and are such favorites
among all lovers of flowers, that 400 varieties existed more than a
century ago, and as many are found now. They are divided into
three classes ; Flakes, which have only two colors and stripes
large and deep ; Bizarres (French, odd, irregular), variegated
with three colors in irregular spots and stripes ; Picotees (French,
prickled or spotted), which have a white ground, spotted with
scarlet, red, purple, or other colors. The last have the smallest
flowers, or smaller than common carnations, and distinguished by
their serrated petals ; also more hardy. Though 5 petals are the
due number in this genus, in the Carnations the flowers have
double or triple that number, and become very large by cultivation.
Loudon.
D. armeria. L. Red Pink. A native of England, and the
chief pink cultivated a few years ago in the western part of the
State. In a few places it appears to be naturalized.
D. Chinensis. L. China Pink. A native of China ; has
reddish and whitish flowers, with toothed petals and linear scales.