Plants in the Hortus
Many of the plants described here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861. A large number of additional plants were identified from correspondence, gardening notebooks and other documents surviving in the archives. The Hortus attempts to describe all the plants grown in the gardens at Camden Park and those grown in horticultural enterprises such as orchards and vineyards and includes plants grown outside the gardens in the park-like environs of the Camden Park estate. The Hortus plants served a wide range of purposes in the 19th century household; as ornament, living fences, fibre, dyestuffs, medicines, food and drink from the garden, orchard and vineyard and many others.
Dianthus caryophyllus Puxley’s ‘Queen’
For generic information on the garden carnation see Dianthus caryophyllus L. Puxley’s ‘Queen’ is a crimson bizarre carnation. [Gard. Chron. 1849].
Dianthus caryophyllus Sharpe’s ‘Agitation’
For generic information on the garden Carnation and Picotee see Dianthus caryophyllus L. Sharpe’s ‘Agitation’ is a purple edged picotee. ‘When in a weak state the flowers are apt to come out of character, and then present nothing remarkable. On the contrary, when the layers are strong and well grown, it is one of the very best purple edges in cultivation, and would attract the eye in a moment amongst a thousand. It is fine in form, purity and marking.’ [Gard. Chron. 1846].
Dianthus caryophyllus Sharpe’s ‘Criterion’
For generic information on the garden Carnation and Picotee see Dianthus caryophyllus L. Sharpe’s ‘Criterion’ is a light edged red picotee, probably introduced in 1841. [Gard. Chron. 1841]. ‘Neatly edged, but with a short awkward pod; flowers medium size, and apt to expand confusedly, requiring much care to bloom it well; the layers also root indifferently.’ [Gard. Chron. 1843]. ‘Light-edged, red picotee: pod not very good, being rather short; petals of a medium size, and somewhat confused; ground pretty clear; edging neat and distinct.’ [FC p.80/1849].
Dianthus caryophyllus Sharpe’s ‘Duke of Wellington’
For generic information on the garden Carnation and Picotee see Dianthus caryophyllus L. Sharpe’s ‘Duke of Wellington’ is a ‘heavy-edged red picotee; petals broad and well formed, white fine, and red very brilliant but not quite confined to the edge.’ [Gard. Chron. 1842]. ‘White pure, and very fully feathered; the guard leaves are rather too small, sometimes rather too much bowed.’ [Gard. Chron. 1843]. ‘Sharpe’s “Duke of Wellington” at present stands unrivalled among the heavy red-edged flowers, notwithstanding the smoothness of the petals and peculiarity of colour.’ [Gard. Chron. 1843]. ‘Heavy-edged, red picotee: pod large but rather short; petals broad and well formed and crowning finely; ground good and clear; edging well marked and regular. [FC p.42/1849]. ‘Were it not for its pudding-shaped pod, which makes it very liable to burst, this would be the best heavy red out, as it is, if caught, a very pretty flower, round in its shape, good in its colour, and deserving a place in any collection.’ [BF p.219/1844].
Dianthus caryophyllus Sharpe’s ‘Hector’
For generic information on the garden Carnation and Picotee see Dianthus caryophyllus L. Sharpe’s ‘Hector’ is a ‘light-edged red picotee, petals large and well formed, white very fine, edging irregular.’ [Gard. Chron. 1842]. A similar variety to Tolworthy’s ‘Isabella’ but of longer standing. [Gard. Chron. 1846]. ‘Light-edged, rose picotee: pod pretty fair; petals large and well formed; ground very pure; edging pretty regular. [FC p.43/1849]. ‘Another good flower; the white is waxy, edging good, and the habit of the plant most luxuriant. Should be grown by every one who has even only a small collection.’ [BF p.221/1844].
Dianthus caryophyllus Sharpe’s ‘Invincible’
For generic information on the garden Carnation and Picotee see Dianthus caryophyllus L. Sharpe’s ‘Invincible’ is a ‘light-edged purple, petals well formed, white good, and edging regular.’ [Gard. Chron. 1842]. ‘Pod good; petals well formed; ground pure; edging pretty regular.’ [FC p.79/1949]. ‘Another ex. ex. flower, with more stuff than the last named [‘Nulli secundus’] though perhaps not quite equalling it in other respects, still a desirable variety.’ [BF p.220/1844].
Dianthus caryophyllus Sharpe’s ‘L’Elegant’
For generic information on the garden Carnation and Picotee see Dianthus caryophyllus L. Sharpe’s ‘L’Elegant’ is a purple edged, light picotee. Awarded a prize at the Slough Carnation and Picotee Show, 1847. [Gard. Chron. 1847].
Dianthus caryophyllus Smith’s ‘Duke of Wellington’
For generic information on the garden carnation see Dianthus caryophyllus L. Smith’s ‘Duke of Wellington’ is a scarlet bizarre carnation. ‘A large bright-coloured flower, pod good, luxuriant in its growth, and a very desirable variety.’ [BF p217/1844]. Gard. Chron. 1842. Gard. Chron. 1843.
Dianthus caryophyllus Tolworthy’s ‘Isabella’
For generic information on the garden Carnation and Picotee see Dianthus caryophyllus L. Tolworthy’s ‘Isabella’ is a light edged red picotee. ‘The ground colour (is) good, edged (and) feathered with a peculiar dark crimson, a new variety of good proportions.’ [Gard. Chron. 1846]. ‘Light-edged, red picotee: pod only middling; petals pretty good; ground good; edging distinct, and well feathered with dark red.’ [FC p.78/1849].
Dianthus caryophyllus Walliss’ ‘Beauty of Cradley’
For generic information on the garden carnation see Dianthus caryophyllus L. Walliss’ ‘Beauty of Cradley’ is a scarlet flake carnation. ‘Fine pod; rather thin, petals finely shaped, ribbed with intense scarlet; white not very pure.’ [Gard. Chron. 1843]. ‘The flowers are finely marked, but require bleaching, as they come out rather flushed.’ [FC p.254/1842].
Dianthus caryophyllus Wildman’s ‘Buonaparte’
For generic information on the garden carnation see Dianthus caryophyllus L. A Florists’ Carnation, but I have found no description of Wildman’s ‘Buonaparte’.
Dianthus caryophyllus Wilson’s ‘Harriet’
For generic information on the garden carnation see Dianthus caryophyllus L. Wilson’s ‘Harriet’ is a rose flake carnation. ‘High coloured rose; large flower with fine petals, white clear, striping well divided.’ [Gard. Chron. 1842]. ‘First rate.’ [Gard. Chron. 1843].
Dianthus caryophyllus Wilson’s ‘Miss Fanny Irby’
For generic information on the garden Carnation and Picotee see Dianthus caryophyllus L. Wilson’s ‘Miss Fanny Irby’ is a rose edged picotee. ‘Light-edged rose, petals well formed, smooth and not serrated; white good, with very regular edging.’ [Gard. Chron. 1842]. ‘Flowers of medium size, rather heavily edged with rosy-salmon colour: a desirable variety.’ [Gard. Chron. 1843]. ‘Wilson’s Fanny Irby must not be forgotten; this is a good and useful sort, fine petals and of good size. The margin is rather paler (than other rose-edged varieties), and it is likewise an older flower: still it is a good favourite.’ [Gard. Chron. 1845]. ‘Light-edged, rose picotee: pod pretty fair; petals well formed and smooth; ground good, edging very regular; and although this is of the light class, it is a little too heavy. The flower is of medium size.’ [FC p.79/1849]. ‘A pretty scarlet-edged flower, raised by the Hon. and Rev. Robert Wilson, raiser of ‘Harriet’, ‘Pluperfect’, etc.’ [British Florist p.221/1844].
Dianthus caryophyllus Wilson’s ‘Plus Perfect’
For generic information on the garden Carnation and Picotee see Dianthus caryophyllus L. Wilson’s ‘Plus Perfect’ is a light edged purple picotee, probably introduced in 1841. [Gard. Chron. 1841]. ‘A great favourite with many, being above the average size, with a fine broad and pure petal; its slightly serrated edge will always prove a serious drawback.’ [Gard. Chron. 1846]. ‘This is a very beautiful Picotee, of the purple light-edged class. the white is of uncommon brilliance, and the lacing entirely confined to the edges of the petals.’ [FC p.218/1842]. ‘Light-edged, purple picotee: pod good and large; petals large and broad, but a little serrated; ground pure; edging fine and very distinct.’ [FC p.79/1849]. ‘An old flower, but a good one; the edging light and delicate, white good, rather difficult to increase, as its habit is not robust.’ [BF p.220/1844].
Dianthus caryophyllus Wilson’s ‘William IV’
For generic information on the garden carnation see Dianthus caryophyllus L. Wilson’s ‘William IV’ is a scarlet flake carnation. ‘Good petals with the colour bright and well divided.’ [Gard. Chron. 1842]. ‘Well marked, a fuller flower and of excellent shape.’ [Gard. Chron. 1843]. ‘This is a very pretty scarlet flake. The white is tolerably good, and the stripes of scarlet very vivid. It is, however, only a middle-sized flower, and ought to be strong grown, and primed well before it attains the desirable size for the competition florist.’ [FC p.8/1843].
