THE FLORIST. 261 



ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 



To the Superintendent of The Florist. 



No. VI. 

 On Variety I would observe, that by this term I do not mean ex- 

 actly that quality which gives value to a new seedling plant, by reason 

 of its being different from others already in cultivation ; but a quality 

 to be looked for in any single given specimen irrespective of others ; 

 that is, not comparative but absolute ; not as differing from its fel- 

 lows, but as containing differences in itself. And this quality, as I 

 observed before, may arise from either of the three sources of form, 

 number, or colour, or from any two, or all united. The Passion- 

 flower, and still more the Water-lily, strike the eye as much from 

 their varied forms as colours ; and the Hyacinth derives its principal 

 and constant value, irrespective of colour, from the same source. 

 The petals of the Ranunculus are alike in form and markings, but 

 their numbers contribute as much to an appearance of variety as 

 to fulness of outline. And a bizarre Carnation, or which has two 

 colours besides the ground, is considered to belong to a higher 

 class than the simpler flaked kinds. From whatever source, how- 

 ever, arising, it is essential that the florist's flower which would 

 claim a high position should not be deficient in this. In a bed or a 

 border the brilliant colour of some self-flowers make them the most 

 useful and attractive of all, as the scarlet Geranium, the Gentianella, 

 the Lobelia cardinalis or cserulea, the Nemophila, and others ; but 

 that is because variety is produced by their being seen as a whole, 

 and contrasted with surrounding objects. Separate a single blossom 

 from the plant, and examine it attentively, and you will find it flag 

 in its interest sooner than one in which relief is given to the eye by 

 variety. Its properties are perceived at a glance, and the eye has 

 done its office ; and our copy-books will be found to enunciate a 

 philosophical truth, when they impress upon the child what the child 

 knows better than any philosopher, that it is variety that is charming. 



I. It is produced by form. No class of plants approach the 

 Orchids in illustrations of this. Very few of their blossoms have 

 simple forms ; and when there is a leading feature, as in the Papilio, 

 in some of which a butterfly is represented as faithfully as a bee in a 

 Larkspur, the whole blossom nevertheless is complex. Indeed, it is 

 probably as much from the endless variety in every department of 

 that quality that is found in these flowers, as for any individual 

 superiority they possess, though this too must be accorded to them, 

 that they owe their unrivalled popularity. But as these are beyond 

 the reach of ordinary growers, I prefer drawing my illustrations from 

 more familiar objects. 



A very good instance is the Fuchsia. At present, and until F. 

 spectabilis has revolutionised the tribe, its pendulous character, its 

 want of petalous expansion, and its glossy texture of skin unbroken 

 for the greater part of its length, seem to remove it in appearance 



