224 HISTORY OF THE HEARTSEASE. 



flower, had never been seen. Indeed such a feature had never entered 

 my imagination — nor can I take any merit to myself for originating 

 this peculiar property — for it was entirely the offspring of chance. 

 In looking one morning over a collection of heaths, which had been 

 some time neglected, I was struck, to use a vulgar expression, all of 

 a heap, by seeing what appeared to me a miniature impression of a 

 cat's face steadfastly gazing at me. It was the flower of a Heartsease, 

 self-sown, and hitherto left ' to waste its beauty far from mortal's 

 eye.' I immediately took it up, and gave it ' a local habitation and 

 a name.' This first child of the tribe I called Madora, and from 

 her bosom came the seed, which after various generations produced 

 Victoria, who in her turn has become the mother of many even more 

 beautiful than herself. Hitherto, in the way of colour, nothing new 

 had been introduced ; white, yellow and blue, in their numerous 

 shades, seemed to be the only colours which the Heartsease was ca- 

 pable of throwing out, till about four years since, when I discovered 

 in my seedling bed a dark bronze flower, Avhich I immediately marked 

 and baptized Flamium ; — from this have sprung Tartan, Vivid, and 

 the King of Beauties, which has only bloomed this spring, and is, 

 decidedly, the best flower of its kind that has ever been submitted to 

 public inspection." — Flower Gardener's Library. 



Modes of Propagation. — In order to have line proportioned flowers, 

 save no seed but from such kinds, and draft out of the collection just 

 when blooming any kinds not of fine form, so that no impregnation 

 may be effected from inferior sorts. If any of the latter class are 

 kept, let them be grown remote from the best kinds. The best time 

 to sow the seed is early in April, or late in August. The soil must 

 be kept constantly moistened till the seedlings come up, which will 

 be in nine weeks. Sow either on a north border, or in pots where 

 they can be kept shaded from hot sun. Sow thinly, transplant when 

 they have made four or six rough leaves, except late sown in Autumn, 

 then leave them till spring. The best soil to sow in is light loam, 

 and cover the seed about one-eighth of an inch. 



Cuttings may be struck at any time from spring to autumn, but the 

 latter is the best period. Side shoots not flowered are the best, short 

 jointed, and not more than three or four inches long. Put them out 

 in any shady border, watering freely in a dry season. One neglect of 

 water generally destroys the cuttings. A light but rich soil is essen- 



