SECRET OF THE CHARM OF FLOWERS 151 



It will be noted by those who are acquainted 

 with many flowers that I have given the names 

 of but few — it may be too few — as examples, and 

 that these are nearly all of familiar wild flowers. 

 My reason for not going to the garden is, that our 

 cultivated blooms are not only artificially pro- 

 duced, and in some degree monstrosities, but they 

 are seen in unnatural conditions, in crowds and 

 masses, the various kinds too near together, and 

 in most cases selected on account of their gorgeous 

 colouring. The effect produced, however delight- 

 ful it may be in some ways, is confusing to those 

 simple natural feelings which flowers in a state of 

 nature cause in us. 



I confess that gardens in most cases affect me 

 disagreeably ; hence I avoid them, and think and 

 know little about garden flowers. It is of course 

 impossible not to go into gardens. The large 

 garden is the greatly valued annexe of the large 

 house, and is as much or more to the mistress than 

 the coverts to the master ; and when I am asked 

 to go into the garden to see and adnire all that 

 is there, I cannot say, " Madam, I hate gardens." 

 On the contrary, I must weakly comply and pre- 

 tend to be pleased. And when going the rounds 

 of her paradise my eyes light by chance on a bed 



