THE FLORIST. 211 



And a much earlier and more perfect agreement may be expected 

 when the natural principles, in accordance with which our preferences 

 are formed, are known and understood. 



There is, then, always one leading idea suggested by any flower, 

 controlled by the general outline of its form, and the disposition of 

 its principal parts. This is the characteristic of the flower, to which 

 all its other properties must be subservient. It is not always easy 

 to express in words what this idea is, though when there is some 

 other thing with which we are familiar to serve as an illustration, 

 there is no difficulty. Thus the idea of a Tulip is a painted cup, 

 and that of a Dahlia or a Ranunculus is a variegated rosette. 



And as the general outline takes the lead in the impression pro- 

 duced by the flower, a defective form in it cannot be compensated, 

 because there is nothing of equal value, by a counter- excellence, in 

 which it might be balanced. If, therefore, that outline be not full 

 and graceful, the flower must needs be faulty. Such is the native 

 Pansy, and therefore its improvement depended on first bringing its 

 general form into what it may now be said to have obtained, a near 

 resemblance to a circle. The Cineraria is still defective in this, from 

 its outline consisting of points. And therefore its improvement, on 

 the supposition of its continuing a single flower, first demands the 

 rounding off of its petals. Whether it would be improved if ren- 

 dered double is a question, on the solution of which something will 

 be said when treating of the principle of variety. And thus much in 

 the outset concerning outlines, general and subordinate. 



[To be continued.] IOTA. 



FANCY PELARGONIUMS. 



Your amusing correspondent from Cornwall, " Amateur," has ex- 

 pressed in a friendly spirit his dislike of the race of fancy Pelargo- 

 niums, and his disapprobation of the part you have taken in ex- 

 hibiting them to public view in the illustrations of The Florist. 



In his estimate of those varieties, and of the class to which they 

 belong, I do not doubt that I entirely participate ; but not at all in 

 his censure of the conductors of The Florist on account of their 

 appearance in the pages of that work ; for this curious strain of 

 flowers has for the last few years every where broken out among the 

 raisers of seedling Pelargoniums, and I believe you have hit upon 

 its true reason. But they have been, taken up by the public ; and 

 a periodical, which must represent as well as form public opinion, 

 would be reprehensible if it did not exhibit fairly and impartially all 

 the facts within its range, and the state of public feeling upon them. 

 I have no doubt, therefore, that you did no more than your duty 

 in figuring those " odious frights ;" for many people entertain an 

 opinion of their merits very different from " Amateur's" or my own. 

 By our volatile neighbours on the other side of the Channel, I heard 

 from a gentleman who was there the season before last, hardly any 



