56 FLORA HISTORICA. 



nearly of the same colour with the eye and stripes as 

 scarcely to be distinguished ; in short, the Polyan- 

 thos should possess a graceful elegance of form, a 

 richness of colouring, and symmetry of parts, not 

 to be found united in any other flower ." 



A connoisseur in Polyanthoses scarce deigns a 

 look of approbation on a pin-eyed flower, however 

 brilliant its corolla. We think this distinction too 

 refined, having frequently met with these outcasts 

 of the garden that ought to have filled conspicuous 

 situations from the gaiety of their colours. The 

 difference of the Rose and the pin-eyed flower con- 

 sists in the anthers of the former being fixed near 

 the top of the tube, and the pistil being shorter 

 than the tube, is therefore not seen ; whereas in the 

 pin-eyed, the pistil is so long as to reach the top of 

 the tube, and the anthers are attached to the mid- 

 dle of the pipe, which swells out where the anthers 

 are fixed. 



Polyanthoses are increased by dividing the roots, 

 or by slips, which should be taken off in the autumn. 

 Indeed at this season all the roots should be taken 

 up, divided, and planted into fresh earth ; for, if 

 suffered to remain over one or two years, they will 

 degenerate and lose the greater part of their beauty. 

 These favourite flowers of the Spring should be 

 planted about six inches apart, and if about ten or 

 twelve plants, all of the same variety, be placed in 



