ON THE HEARTSEASE. 



281 



or separate beds, nevertheless I propose a few of the choicest to be 

 introduced, into any suitable vacancies among a collection of Herba- 

 ceous Plauts in the confined gardens around London, or any other 

 diminutive pleasure-ground : as, from experience, I am induced to 

 observe, that they would to a certain extent be much more attractive, 

 and look infinitely better. 



I shall be at any time most happy to subscribe Floricultural 

 knowledge, if you consider my communications worthy of accep- 

 tance. 



August 25th, 1836. 



(We shall be glad to hear from Mr. Brown at all times. — Coni>.) 



ARTICLE IX.— ON THE HEARTSEASE. 



BY MR. TODD, ROLVENDEN, KENT. 



Having paid considerable attention to the propagation and subsequent 

 culture of the Heartsease, I am induced to send the following 

 observations, upon this interesting and beautiful flowering plant, for 

 insertion in the Cabinet, hoping it will be of some interest to its 

 readers. 



So strikingly handsome, and attractive are the flowers, and so 

 easy of propagation, generating at a most surprising rate, that I 

 hesitate not to say, that the Heartsease will, ere long, become the 

 pride of every flower garden, from the humble cottage to the splendid 

 palace. 



The family of this pretty flowering plant, comprises a vast variety 

 of colours, and form. It is to me quite astonishing that such perfect 

 flowers should have been produced from their progenitors. I could 

 refer to many such by name, but as some of the readers of the Cabinet 

 may not know them, I beg to state what are in my opinion the pro- 

 perties of a good flower. Whatever the colours, are they should be 

 clear, and distinct ; not blended and suffused together. The flower 

 should be as broad as it is long, and the two upper petals should 

 occupy about one half, and the lower petal be about one quarter, the 

 two side petals exhibiting to front view the other quarter. The 

 whole of the petals should join neatly together so as to fonn a fiat 

 surface, combining to compose a circle as near as may be, allowing 

 for a small deviation from the circumference line at the places where 

 the petals meet, and the incurvature of the lower edge of the bottom 

 petal. The merits of the flower are judged by its perfection of form 

 in the above respects, and not to size, a large wavy edged, or wavy 

 surfaced flower, would be far inferior to a small one possessing the 



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