242 



BECEEATIVE SCIENCE. 



the placing of colours, as the knowledge of 

 thorough-bass is requisite to insure harmony 

 in the score of a musical composition. 



There is the harmony of analogy as well 

 as the harmony of contrast. The distinction 

 is best illustrated by reference to the dark 

 and fair types of the human complexion. In 

 the fair type we have the harmony of analogy, 

 the colour of the skin being, although of a 

 lower tone than the hair, analogous to it. 

 The only actual contrast of colour in the fair 

 type is afforded by blue eyes. Blondes ought, 

 therefore, in the disposition of their toilettes, 

 to carry out the principle dictated by the na- 

 ture of tJieir attractions. M. Chevreul recom- 

 mends sky-blue as the colour that approaches 

 nearest to the complementary of orange, 

 which is the basis of the governing tint in 

 the complexion of blondes. On the other 

 hand, the black-haired type shows the har- 

 mony of contrast predominating over the 

 harmony of analogy. Contrast being, in this 

 case, the ruling principle, M. Chevreul points 

 out that yellow and orange-red harmonize 



with the complexion of the brunette, while 

 the complementaries violet and blue-green 

 may be employed to assist the good effect. 

 It is worthy a passing remark that the ex- 

 fashionable colour, which is called " mauve," 

 and which might just as well have been 

 called by its English name, " mallow," inas- 

 much as it is the hue of the maUow-flower, 

 is unsuitable alike to all complexions. It is a 

 pretty colour of itself, but only in daylight. 

 Neither by similitude nor by contrast will it 

 harmonize with any tint in the human hair or 

 skin. 



The education of the eye need not be con- 

 fined to plans and diagrams, however correct. 

 It-will be as safely, and with more likeliliood 

 of profit, carried on in the school of Nature. 

 But, however carried on, an indispensable 

 condition is, that natural laws shall be kept in 

 sight; that "taste" shall not be allowed to 

 override any of these laws ; but shall acknow- 

 ledge among them, and submit to be regu- 

 lated by, the Laws of Colour. 



GODFEBT TxJfiNEB. 



EAPHIDES, OE MICROSCOPIC PLANT-CEYSTALS. 



When the microscope came to be directed 

 to the structure of plants, some minute 

 crystals were occasionally found, that have 

 since become objects of considerable interest. 

 On the authority of Dr. Lindley, the first to 

 have the pleasure of finding them was named 

 Eafn, and the first plant in which they were 

 met with Calla Ethiopica, the beautiful 

 arum now so great a favourite as a window 

 ornament and as a subject with designers. 

 As to the right of priority, however, there 

 seems some little doubt, our own adopted 

 countryman Malpighi having observed crys- 

 tals in the Indian fig {Cactus opuntia) at 

 about the same time. They were long con- 

 sidered rare and curious objects j the latter 



they still, and always will remain, but it is 

 interesting to observe how— 



" From small beginnings great events arise." 



From being considered rare, the progress of 

 research has shown that it would be more 

 difficult to name plants in which they are not 

 met with than the contrary. As an example 

 of what may still be considered the typical 

 form, those met with in the hyacinth may be 

 named. If a portion of the flower-stem of 

 this plant be cut or bruised over a glass slide, 

 the exuding fluid will be found to contain 

 many minute, delicate, transparent crystals, 

 looking like so many fine needles sharply 

 pointed at both ends (Fig. 1, a). 



