■ BBIEF REMARKS. 255 



derived from them. Knowing, then, this tendency of nature to give 

 permanency to a variety of forms obtained from one primitive species, 

 there appears to be less violence done to her laws by combining too ' 

 much, tlian by subdivision, unless where there is an anatomical or 

 physiological distinction. Linnaeus took nearly all his specific cha- 

 racters from conspicuous parts, especially from the stem and foliage, 

 and they were therefore natural ; but at the present day we are prone 

 to select minute ones : of these some are of trifling value, while others, 

 sufficient to constitute subgenera, are connected with the habit of the 

 plant, and should therefore not be neglected. Indeed the time may 

 ere long arrive, when what are now called genera or subgenera will 

 alone be considered species, and another Linnaeus be requisite to reduce 

 the chaos into order. In the meanwhile we have endeavoured to steer 

 a middle course ; the species admitted in former editions are seldom 

 reduced, unless where it was found that the characters were insufficient 

 or variable ; and as rarely has sanction been given to those which have 

 been split off from other species, by the too-refined ingenuity of the 

 German, Swiss, and modern Swedish botanists. If in one or two cases 

 this neomania has been yielded to, it has been more on account of the 

 remonstrances of the author's friends, who had opportunities of examin- 

 ing the living plant, than from any conviction of either the necessity 

 or utility of so doing. — British Flora, by Sir W. J. Hooker, and 

 G. A. W. Arnott. (This is a very useful publication. — Editor.) 



An Invalid's Garden. — I am and have been for years a great 

 invalid, and am passionately fond of flowers, though unable to enjoy 

 their beauties out of doors, and am therefore confined to those which I 

 can tend in my windows. Whilst endeavouring to wile away many 

 weary hours, the thought has frequently been forcibly impressed upon 

 my mind, that an immense increase of recreation and pleasure is yet 

 within reach of sufferers like myself. It may be visionary, yet I assure 

 you I have dwelt on my plan with the most delighted feelings, and 

 pictured in my mind's eye a perfect little paradise of flowers. The late 

 measures of Government in removing the duty on bricks and glass, will 

 now enable even me to attempt what I have long only thought of. My 

 plan is simply this : to have built a span-roofed pit, covered with thick 

 rolled glass, which is not much dearer than slates ; and on each side to 

 have a bed, if I may so call it, heated by hot water (to be used only 

 when required) ; the service of the bed to be of sheet iron, painted and 

 vulcanised, or undergone some process to prevent rust. In this iron 

 I would have a series of circles cut, into which I would fit earthenware 

 vessels, -like seed pans, with ornamented margins, and arranged artisti- 

 cally. Now, would it not be possible to have these pans filled with 

 beautiful flowers? and, to keep up the beauty of the place, as the 

 flowers went out of bloom, might not the pans be lifted, and others, 

 from a reserve garden, substituted ? Could not one pan have scarlet 

 Verbenas, pegged down so as to make a mass ? another white, and so 

 through all tlie various shades ? Could there not be some filled with 

 Gladioli, Ixias, Achimenes, &c. ? Could there not be circular masses 

 of Crocuses, Hyacinths, and flowers of a similar character, for spring ? 

 These might be succeeded by scores of other things, and why not thus 



