APEIL. 109 



the rich deep-coloured Polyanthuses of the Garden are 

 derived, and the curious florist would therefore do 

 well to collect any singular varieties of Primrose or 

 Oxlip met with in the woods. In a similar way the 

 singularly-varied blossoms of the favourite tribe of 

 Auriculas have all been derived from a small pale- 

 coloured plant of little beauty found on the Alps. 

 Eaw meat applied to the roots of Auriculas is ac- 

 counted very beneficial to them, and WITHEKIXG 

 suggests that a similar application would increase the 

 size and beauty of Polyanthuses. This is indeed only 

 an extension of the principle of manuring, which 

 affects even wild flowers very remarkably. 



"Wherever we now look around, the border of the 

 wood is empurpled with violets. But we had better 

 rest contented with the mere sight of them, they are 

 " dog-violets" -odourless. Strange that amidst the 

 storms of March the sweet violet should present itself; 

 and as bright days arise when we might expect addi- 

 tional odours from the same tribe, a race suddenly 

 appear simulating the beauty of their precursors, but 

 entirely scentless so that we contemptuously turn 

 away from what without such a prepossession might 

 have been regarded with pleasure and satisfaction. 

 ]STo one likes deception. To make a promise to the 

 eye or ear and break it to the hope, is no uncommon 

 thing in life, but it is not the less disagreeable for 

 that. The delicate Anemone (A. nemorosa), bending 

 before the wind, inspires far different emotions it 



grow side by side. A writer in the Gardener's Chronicle, (1842J, says this 

 is not the case on the continent, and that the German Oxlip found through- 

 out Germany, south of the Neckar, and in the pastures of the Tyrol, 

 " seems to be subject to no varieties, and has a peculiar cramp habit of 

 leaf, a rough scape, nodding flowers, swelling calyx, and is scentless." 



