DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 181 



large, showy, gorgeous in color, sporting into every tint 

 except blue. The shape, too, is perfect, although a little 

 too set and prim, as though it was made for the occasion. 

 The habit of the plant is coarse, and the smell repulsive ; 

 but, with all its fiihngs, it is or has been a popular flow- 

 er, and will continue to find favor with many. 



It was first introduced into England in the year 1789, 

 was but little noticed, and soon lost. It was re-introduced 

 from Mexico in 1804, as a single purple flower of not 

 much interest. It is only within the last 40 years that it 

 has received the attention of the florist. From the single 

 purple and scarlet flowers, all the numerous varieties of 

 florists' flowers have been produced ; a striking example 

 of what may be done by patient perseverance and skill in 

 the improvement of a floAver from its native simplicity. 

 Continental botanists call the genus Georgina. It is found 

 in sandy meadows in Mexico, and till the peace of 1814, 

 was more cultivated in France than in England. It was not 

 introduced into this country until about 1825. D. variabilis 

 is the species from which the innumerable florists varieties 

 have been produced, though there are several other spe- 

 cies to be found in European collections. 



The root is tuberous and tender. Freezing destroys it 

 at once ; it can, therefore, be planted only in the spring. 



Propagation. — It is propagated by seeds, division of 

 the roots, and by cuttings. 



By Seed. — If the seed is soon in a hot-bed in April or 

 March, and the plants set out in the open ground in June, 

 most of them will flower the first season ; and though not 

 one in a hundred may come up to the standard of a per- 

 fect flower, yet it is very interesting to mark the curious 

 sports which are often made in these seedlings. Many of 

 them will make a greater show than the more perfect sorts ; 

 as what is lacking in shape and size, may be made up in 

 the profusion of bloom and variety of colors. 



