THE PINK. 



139 



been called, producing its like, the progeny immediately obtaining an 

 independent existence ; or the new individuals may remain attached 

 almost to an unlimited extent, constituting highly compound plants, 

 the different organs or phytons of which undergo very various modifi- 

 cations of form, and acquire very distinct functions. Thus in a flower- 

 ing plant, or, as a stronger example, in a forest tree, every leaf is to be 

 considered as essentially a distinct individual ; but as a member of a 

 compound body, working for the general benefit of the whole. In 

 obedience to the requirements of this, they undergo modifications to fit 

 them to execute distinct offices in the economy of tlie plant ; some are 

 destined to the nutritive functions, others to the reproductive ; and 

 among these latter we find them still further losing their individuality, 

 and becoming blended in all their parts with their fellows, until alnaost 

 all trace of their origin is lost. This is the substance of the doctrine 

 of morphology, the most important generalisation in the whole science 

 of botany, as affording a clear and systematic view of the vegetable 

 kingdom as a wliole, in addition to the important relations it estab- 

 lishes with zoology. — Henfrerfs Outlines of Structural and Physio- 

 logical Botany. 



THE PINK. 



In several of our volumes the subject of a standard whereby the flowers 

 of the Pink should be judged was discussed, so as to reconcile the 

 growers of the south and north to an uniform one. It, however, 

 remains unsettled ; and a suggestion has been made by a writer in the 

 Midland Florist to the following effect :— 



" I want to see Pinks (flowers) with a leaf, somethmg like a 

 Camellia, smooth on the edge, and with some substance in it, and 

 which I have no doubt may and will be obtained in a very few years, 

 by strict attention being paid to collecting seed from sorts that hare 

 good properties, particularly a good leaf. 



" I beg to suggest the following code of rules for the Pink : — Ihe 

 petals of" the flower should be round and smooth on the edge, and go 

 well to the shoulders, to prevent them being spade-shaped. The flower 

 to be perfectly flat, except a crown formed with a few of the inner 

 petals. No flower to contain less than twelve petals, the colour to be 

 well defined, the white to be clear and distinct. The lacing and eye, 

 or centre, to correspond in colour. The lacing to be well laid on to 

 the edge of the petal, and not to show a white fringe outside the lacing ; 

 the petals imbricating each other neatly, and showing the lacing dis- 

 tinct. The pod of the flower to be nearly straight, and not liable to 

 burst, so that it will hold the petals close together ; otherwise the 

 flower will show what florists term an open throat, and not form a per- 

 fect round eye, which is a most essential requisite in a good flower. 



" The plain or black and white pink, which we iiold in great esteem 

 here, should be judged by the above rules, except the lacing. 



