344 TROPICAL NATURE 



protecting them under glass from our sudden changes of 

 temperature, so that they are themselves an additional proof 

 that tropical light and heat are not needed for the production 

 of intense and varied colour. Another important considera- 

 tion is, that these cultivated varieties in many cases displace a 

 number of wild species which arc hardly, if at all, cultivated. 

 Thus there are scores of species of wild hollyhocks varying in 

 colour almost as much as the cultivated varieties, and the 

 same may be said of the pentstemons, rhododendrons, and 

 many other flowers ; and if these were all brought together 

 in well-grown specimens, they would produce a grand effect. 

 But it is far easier, and more profitable for our nurserymen, 

 to grow varieties of one or two species, which all require a 

 similar culture, rather than fifty distinct species, most of 

 which would require special treatment, the result being that 

 the varied beauty of the temperate flora is even now hardly 

 known, except to botanists and to a few amateurs. 



But we may go further, and say that the hardy plants of 

 our cold temperate zone equal, if they do not surpass, the 

 productions of the tropics. Let us only remember such 

 gorgeous tribes of flowers as the roses, pseonies, hollyhocks, 

 and antirrhinums; the laburnum, wistaria, and lilac; the 

 lilies, irises, and tulips; the hyacinths, anemones, gentians, 

 and poppies, and even our humble gorse, broom, and heather ; 

 and we may defy any tropical country to produce masses of 

 floral colour in greater abundance and variety. It may be 

 true that individual tropical shrubs and flowers do surpass 

 everything in the rest of the world ; but that is to be expected, 

 because the tropical zone comprises a much greater land area 

 than the two temperate zones, while, owing to its more 

 favourable climate, it produces a still larger proportion of 

 species of plants and a greater number of peculiar natural 

 orders. 



Direct observation in tropical forests, plains, and mountains 

 fully supports this view. Occasionally we are startled by 

 some gorgeous mass of colour, but as a rule we gaze upon an 

 endless expanse of green foliage, only here and there enlivened 

 by not very conspicuous flowers. Even the orchids, whose 

 superb blossoms adorn our stoves, form no exception to 

 this rule. It is only in favoured spots that we find them in 



