JANUARY. 19 



emerging from the earth into " light and life," and had the same been 

 permitted to remain, the bed would in all probability have been replete 

 with plants, evenly and methodically disposed to a degree exceeding 

 even what could be expected to result from a distribution effected 

 by ordinary care and agreeably to the judgment and skill of the most 

 experienced planter. 



Englejield Green. W. Whale. 



PROPERTIES OF POPULAR FLOWERS. 



In the series of articles I have promised under this head doubtless 

 some difficulties may arise owing to the varied nature of the subjects 

 to be treated of ; and the flower I have chosen for my opening paper 

 forms no exception, inasmuch as, as if by one consent, the palm of 

 perfection has been long awarded to the Ranunculus, thus leaving little 

 improvement to desire, and therefore little to say on that point. The 

 following will, however, I opine, demonstrate a different state of 

 things. Whatever perfection the Ranunculus may have attained to in 

 point of form, there is still a wide field for that progressive improve- 

 ment which season by season exhibits itself in all those popular sub- 

 jects taken under the especial care of the Florist ; the Ranunculus is 

 particularly fortunate in possessing the patronage and energetic influ- 

 ence of Scotch Florists, in the first class among whom ranks Mr. Light- 

 body ; Mr. Tyso, Mr. Groom, and Mr. Airzee may be looked up to as 

 leading members of the home division ; yet for all that, from some 

 cause or other, the nature of which it is not the province of these 

 papers to take cognisance, the flower is not so generally cultivated as 

 it deserves to be. 



Assuming that the coloured illustrations given with this Number 

 are truthful representations (and I do not for a moment doubt it) of 

 the originals, and that in the selection only first-class subjects were 

 chosen, no better test or clearer exemplification could be given to 

 shew the necessity of setting up a model standard, even as regards 

 the Ranunculus. 



In delineating the properties of a model flower, of which the ac- 

 companying woodcut may be taken as an example, let me begin with 

 the outline. This must be an even and unbroken circle of not less 

 than two inches in diameter, and formed by the outer edges of the 

 lowest tier of petals ; each tier afterwards lessening as they approach 

 the crown of the flower, and giving an elevation full one half to not 

 exceeding two- thirds of its entire width. 



The petal must be broad, and free from indenture on its outer 

 edge ; by greater obtuseness than it at present possesses can an un- 

 broken outline only be attained ; the round petals hitherto required 

 are particularly objectionable, in fact they destroy the possibility of 

 achieving the ultimatum demanded •, smoothness both on surface and 

 edge is imperative, and a slightly concave, or as it is usually termed 

 cupped form ; but this cupping should not occur until approaching 



