Flowers and Gardens 



at the base. These lines must not be 

 mistaken for veins. With these they 

 have no connection whatever, not even 

 corresponding with them in position, and 

 being only skin deep, as may readily be 

 seen by peeling the back of the petal. 

 They are, to all appearance, placed there 

 solely for the purpose of ornament. It 

 is best to examine them on one of the 

 outer petals, as on the inner they are 

 but very faintly developed. The value 

 of these lines as affording variety of 

 colour is at once apparent, but their 

 value is still greater with reference to 

 the shape of the flower. The Crocus- 

 cup possesses a double-curve ; the lower 

 part shorter and less noticeable, a slight 

 undulating fulness at the very bottom 

 of the cup ; the upper long, and bend- 

 ing the tip of the petal inwards, as 

 gracefully as if it were the crest of a 

 wave. Now observe the effect of these 

 lines upon that lower curve. We shall 

 not attempt to describe their arrange- 

 ment. It would be vain to do so with- 

 out a diagram, and they can be readily 

 understood by actual inspection of the 

 flower, without which both description 

 and diagram would be useless. It is 

 sufficient to say that they are to some 

 28 



