EVERLASTING FLOWERS 187 



is to say, there was almost invariably a center 

 devoid of petals. My work consisted in select- 

 ing to fill up the center, and make a flower that 

 is altogether double. 



The flowers vary much in size, and the colors 

 are so variant as to supply good material for 

 selection. But a difficulty arises in that the plants 

 produce very little seed. The selective experi- 

 ments have now extended over a number of 

 years, and I have been able to increase the size 

 of the flower, to improve it considerably in the 

 matter of doubleness, and to isolate to a certain 

 extent the different colors, although the plant as 

 yet is not fixed in any of these regards suf- 

 ficiently to justify its introduction. The im- 

 provement already shown, however, justifies the 

 expectation that varieties of these everlastings 

 could be developed that would show very 

 marked improvement over all old types. 



A Gomphrena has been under cultivation for 

 many years. It is a low-growing plant, having 

 globular, crimson flowers. The introduction of 

 new native species from South America may be 

 expected to have the usual stimulative effect, in- 

 creasing the vitality of the plant and giving it 

 greater adaptability, and even now a new orange 

 color is appearing among the old crimson and 

 white varieties. 



