58 THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



tropical recesses of a South American forest, in 

 the heart of Asiatic mountains, or the unex- 

 plored mysteries of New Guinea, these lovers 

 of nature are at work, labouring for our pleasure 

 and instruction, and procuring for us new forms 

 of vegetable life and beauty. And meanwhile 

 science is working at home in another and a 

 happier way. Not content with finding new 

 species of plants, she is for ever developing 

 fresh varieties. The art is no new one, and in 

 old days the simpler minds of men were not 

 quite sure of its propriety. It was unnatural, 

 they used to say. It is in vain that Polixenes 

 tells Perdita that there is an art that does mend 

 nature, and, therefore, is nature. She evidently 

 thinks it all sophistry, and not a gillyflower 

 will she have. 



" I'll not put 

 The dibble in the earth to set one slip of them." 



And so, too, Andrew Marvell's mower complains 

 of the gardener that 



" The pink grew then as double as his mind ; 



The nutriment did change the kind ; 

 With strange perfumes he did the roses taint, 

 And flowers themselves were taught to paint." 



