^6 LITERATURE. 



The Americans are now deciding on a national flower, and it has been 

 resolved " that a plant to serve properly the purposes of a national flower should 

 be— 



1. A native of the United States of America. 



2. Should grow wild over the greater part of its area. 



3. Should bloom on one or more of our national lK)lidays. 



4. Should be capable of easy cultivation in any garden. 



5. Should not be a weed, or 



6. In any way offensive or harmful to health. 



7. Should bear what in the popular sense is called a flower. 



8. Should not be mei"ely a foliage plant, or one chiefly valued for its 



fruit, 

 g. Should lend itself readily to floral decoration by variety and purity of 



colour and distinctiveness of form, and 

 10. The features characteristic of its form should combine such simplicity 

 and gracefulness that, when used conventionally in decorative design, 

 the flower may be readily recognised, independently of its colour. 



{Bosfo?i Daily Globe, Jan. 14, I911.) 



In the above desiderata it will be seen that the Waratah far outclasses any 

 other Australian flower, and, to be candid, I advocate the use of the Waratah 

 is our national flower. 



