THE FLORIST. 2S3 



Sometimes a floral disc is made up of florets, as in the natural 

 single Chrysanthemum and Cineraria ; in which case, the outline being 

 formed of the ends of the florets or petals, if any character is ex- 

 pected to be attained in the individual blossoms, the angular points 

 must be got rid of as soon as possible. In the present state of the 

 latter flower, the general outline being rather that of the entire 

 bloom of the whole plant, the minute appearance of each particular 

 blossom becomes secondary, and the starry outline is less of a defect. 

 But even in the general outline, absolute perfection in getting 

 rid of this appearance is in many flowers certainly not to be wished. 

 The resulting appearance would be tame, from the want of a foil to 

 call attention to the beauty of the more perfect part of the form. 

 This would be especially the case in the Auricula. Small processes 

 in the way of points to the petals are clearly serviceable to the gene- 

 ral appearance, though lobes produce the same effect in a less objec- 

 tionable way. In a subordinate position, a distinct star, or a starry 

 appearance, would have all its lively effect, without involving the 

 charge of roughness. 



A curve is a line the direction of which is deflected at every 

 point according to a fixed law ; whence its effect is to disperse in- 

 stead of concentrating force. And the impression produced by it 

 will be that of gracefulness, gentleness. 



Curve -lines are of two kinds, of single and of compound curva- 

 ture ; the former being those of which the flexure is always in one 

 direction, as the circle, ellipse, and others. The latter are those 

 which are not always concave towards the same parts, but the cur- 

 vature is alternately in opposite directions, or such as that a straight 

 line might meet them in more points than two. The quilled form is 

 an instance of it. Curves of high mathematical complexity of both 

 kinds are found in flowers. The hyperbola is represented by the 

 blossom of the Arum. In the detached petal of a good Tulip, and 

 in some other flowers, the two portions of the outline divided by the 

 axis or line of symmetry are asymptotes to each other and to the 

 axis. 



The general outline of trumpet and of bell flowers is commonly 

 of double curvature. So is that of some disc flowers. And when, 

 as in the best varieties of the Polyanthus, the segments are small 

 and equal, and symmetrically arranged upon the circumference of a 

 circle, they form one of the most pleasing and effective of all. 



The circle is the curve which, in proportion to its length, en- 

 closes the greatest space, and therefore, for a containing outline, it 

 is theoretically the most perfect, and must ever stand the highest 

 in reference to its capabilities. Its diameter, moreover, being in 

 all directions equal to itself, it has nothing to attract the eye to 

 one part rather than to another, but all is equable. These properties 

 belong to no other curve, and therefore it possesses advantages for 

 a general outline which no other possesses. 



It does not, however, from thence follow that a circle in one 

 plane, or presenting a flat surface, is the most perfect. On the con- 

 trary, we should say, a priori, that the spherical form which presents 



