MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 69 



must unavoidably be left between the expanded rows and those that form the 

 centre, which then always api ears la ge and coarse, instead of compact, as when 

 formed by imperceptible gradations. The form and height of the centre was 

 then adverted to : though a sunken centre was a defect, it was not a total dis- 

 qualifica'iou, and might be more readily passed over than a cross or misshapen 

 eye, than which scarcely a greater fault existed. The highest centres were not 

 always the best formed ; in some flowers they stood upright, as in Metella, in- 

 stead of curving gently and compactly inwards. The scale, if perceptible, was 

 bad anywhere, but more so in the centre, especially if it formed a glossy, obdu- 

 rate eye, as in Spary's Conqueror of the Plain, in which it was most detestable 

 and disappointing. Mr. Wildman made some other remarks, in which several 

 of the members joined, with regard to other flowers ; and having recapitulated 

 several of the points, mentioned the general form and outline of the flower as a 

 whole. A full flower was generally preferred, and in the Dahlia especially it 

 was desirable, the petals being smaller, as compared to its size, than many other 

 flowers. In self-coloured flowers it added much to solidity of appearance, as 

 well as density and brilliancy of colour, so long as there was no confusion, and 

 every part was distinct and clear. In edged flowers some allowance might per- 

 haps be made, the beauty consisting in two parts of the petals, one of which, if 

 too close, or at all crowded, must be hidden. These observations, however, did 

 not apply to the Dahlia only, for, in his opinion, the Carnation, the beauties of 

 which are.in the interior of the petal, should not be governed strictly by the 

 same rule as the Picotee, as too great a fulness would obviously conceal in the 

 one what would be still conspicuously seen in the other. The next point alluded 

 to was colour; and the remarks were generally confirmatory of the rules hitherto 

 adopted. In alluding, however, to the necessity of the colour penetrating 

 through to the back of the petal, such a principle applied more to self-coloured 

 than edged flowers, in the latter of which the colour was too often at the back 

 of the petal, and not on the face. The difference, however, occasioned (for into 

 the distribution and cause of colour he could not enter) arose from the nerves a 

 the back of the petals of dark flowers being of a light colour, and those in light 

 flowers being, on the contrary, dark, the colouring being apparently diffused in 

 the one throughout the intermediate spaces, and in the other drawn from them 

 and concentrated in the nerves. The colour is then stronger at the tip, where 

 they all meet together. It is of course more perceptible in some varieties than 

 in others, but Eva, Penelope, and several other flowers, might be mentioned as 

 examples. Sometimes the colour also appears as a vein on the face of the petal. 

 A flower with a neat edge, having the colour well concentrated, is still a deside- 

 ratum, most of those we at present possess being only mottled, or faintly clouded. 

 Size was the only remaining point. It was the only one that could be detri- 

 mental if carried to excess, and had been properly considered as of the least 

 importance. It was essential, no doubt, for (as it had been quaintly observed) 

 a good large flower is better than a good small one, but it might with equal jus- 

 tice be asserted that size alone will never make a flower good ; whereas with 

 form alone it never can be positively bad. Size should nevertheless not be un- 

 fairly underrated, for so long as it is unattended with coarseness, as is the case 

 with the splendid specimens exhibited by Mr. Brown, and other judicious and 

 successful cultivators, it must decide precedence. To this the very best judges 

 can have no objection, and by them it will never be lost sight of, so long as it is 

 not carried to such an extent as to destroy uniformity ; and it is only against an 

 undue weight, and the unfair share of attention which it attracts in the eyes of 

 the general or superficial observe r, that restrictive observations have been some- 

 times directed. Attempts have been made to describe what it ought to be, in 

 inches ; but such a plan cannot be supported, and is impracticable. The number 

 of inches, moreover, have often varied according to circumstances and alteration 

 of opinion, to both of which everything must submit. Mr. Wildman then slightly 

 alluded to culture, stating (as he said had already been repeatedly dune) that 

 the chief requisites were a rich, fresh loam, well manured, an open situation, 

 plenty of water, frequently and abundantly given, and a liberal use of the knife, 

 especially in disbudding free and abundant bloomers. These were all absolutely 

 necessary ; but even then, without a free and pure atmosphere all our labours 

 would be lost, however meritorious ; for a Dahlia, of all flowers, required a strong 



