On Gardeners' Flowers 



with the full perfection of the blossom. 

 Next we will look at the blossom, for 

 that is the point which I would princi- 

 pally consider. In the wild plant you 

 may at first greatly miss the full sub- 

 stantial form of the double Rose, and 

 the range of pink colours may also be 

 less. Possibly, therefore, your first im- 

 pression will be that the flower seems 

 thin, loose, and weak. But you will 

 begin to see presently that this is only 

 the effect of the contrast. You cannot 

 point out any real defect one thing 

 that could be altered to advantage. 

 Every part, as you examine it, seems 

 precise in aim, and well calculated to 

 set off the rest, and in essential respects 

 there is a far wider range of contrast 

 in the flower itself. The soft petal 

 bosom, it is true, is gone, but look at 

 the delicate garland of countless stamens 

 which replaces it. In the one case 

 there is nothing but calyx and petals, 

 the same thing being again and again 

 repeated. In the other a new set of 

 elements is introduced, and elements of 

 extreme significance, for they vary ex- 

 ceedingly in all different species of plants, 

 and generally the greatest pains are be- 

 stowed to give them prominence and 

 141 



