38 beeck's new book of flowers. 



barbarism to prefer the single flower ; thus ignoring the 

 culture and skill of the florist for past generations. Adam 

 and Eve were put in possession of a truly botanic garden : 

 God gave wild flowers as he made them, and left it with 

 them and their successors in horticultural jDursuits, to find 

 their pleasure in making improvements. 



But all flowers are not improved, even in the eye of an 

 amateur, by the multiplication of the petals. 



The eflbrts of man to improve certain flowers are futile. 

 Being perfect in themselves, any attempt to improve their 

 beauty is almost impious, and results in failure. Take for 

 example the white garden lily, a flower so perfect, pure, 

 and comely, with its parts so distinct and lovely. What 

 an abortion and failure is the double flower: the upper 

 leaves of the flower stem are transformed to petals, and 

 we have the flower contorted into a lengthened assemblage 

 of green leaves, passing into white, without form or grace, 

 a ridiculous transformation of beauty into ugliness : it is 

 a monstrosity indeed, and can only be retained in a collec- 

 tion for its oddity. 



The Petunia is not improved in its double varieties. A 

 few years since, they were all the rage ; but are now 

 generally discarded, as the fine improved single varieties 

 are considered far superior. 



The double Campanula media has no merit ; it may be 

 likened to a nest of tubs or boxes. The large bell is filled 

 with smaller bells in the same way. 



The double Nasturtium or Tropoeolum is another ex- 

 ample of a failure to improve ; the centre of the flower is 

 filled up Avith numerous contorted petals, and one not ac- 

 quainted Avith it would not suppose it to be a Nasturtium. 



The Zinnia, one of the most unlikely flowers to be im- 

 proved, has witliin a few years become quite a favorite in 

 its double varieties. Instead of tlie rough and stifi" form 

 of the flower, with the ugly high disk in the centre, it has. 



