HISTORY OP THE HEARTSEASE. 223 



cultivate them. Always eager to please my worthy and ever-to-be- 

 lamented master, I did so, saved the seed, and found that they im- 

 proved far beyond my most sanguine expectation. In consequence 

 thereof I collected all the varieties that could be obtained. From 

 Brown, of Slough, I had the blue ; and from some other person, 

 whose name I do not now recollect, a darker sort, said then to have 

 been imported from Russia. These additions wonderfully improved 

 my breeders. But still, though the varieties I soon obtained were 

 multitudinous, their size was almost as diminutive as the originals. 

 Nevertheless his lordship was pleased, and thus I was amply re- 

 warded. Up to this period, which was about four years after my 

 commencement, I began imperceptibly to grow pleased with the 

 pursuit, for all who saw my collection declared themselves delighted 

 therewith. I then began to think that some of my sorts were worthy 

 of propagation ; and this circumstance led me to give one, which 

 took his lordship's fancy, a name. This was entitled Lady Gambier, 

 and as I struck cuttings of it, they were given as presents by my 

 worthy employers to their numerous friends and acquaintances. The 

 character of this flower was so very similar to that which was after- 

 wards spread about under the name of George the Fourth, that I have 

 no doubt but that variety was a seed therefrom. Who raised it, I 

 could never ascertain. This, though in comparison with the worst 

 flower now grown, and many even of the named varieties are still bad 

 enough, would even beside them be reckoned little better than a 

 weed. Still Lady Gambier was the beauty of her tribe, and won 

 golden opinions from every beholder. It was, indeed, in shape little 

 more symmetrical than a child's windmill, but looked in size among 

 the sisterhood like a giant surrounded by dwarfs. But the giant of 

 those days would be a pigmy now, as Lady Gambier herself appeared 

 in comparison with another flower, which I soon after raised, and 

 which, on account of what I then considered its monstrous proportions, 

 I christened Ajax. This I then thought never could be surpassed, 

 and yet in shape it was as lengthy as a horse's head. 



" Still I had worked wonders, and I resolved to persevere. I did 

 so, and was at length rewarded by producing rich colouring, large 

 size, and fine shape. The first large and good shaped flower that I 

 raised was named Thomson's King. Still, up to this period, a dark 

 eye, which is now considered oue of the chief requisites in a first-rate 



