INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 201 



characters, and the requirements of the artistic instinct in the flower 

 garden. The study of a flower may help us to a knowledge of 

 the world, and we may see cause to thank the florist who has 

 detected beauties before unknown to us, and who has proved 

 his capability of perpetuating those beauties by means within the 

 embrace of all. 



There can be no doubt that a revolution in the method of pro- 

 ducing many flowers has been slowly but surely progressing, and 

 is not yet complete ; but as we know nothing of the future, we may 

 be content to deal with the facts of the past, and these justify us in 

 saying that a real revolution has been introduced in the economy and 

 complexion of the English Flower Garden. The immediate result 

 has been to reduce and simplify the gardener's labours, augment con- 

 siderably the number and beauty of garden flowers, and effect a very 

 great annual saving in the costs that accompany garden pleasures. 

 To illustrate the nature of this revolution we will begin with one well- 

 known fact. The Cineraria, at a certain date reaching not far back, 

 was a troublesome plant to grow, by reason of the necessity that was 

 felt for keeping the named varieties, and propagating them by divisions 

 and suckers. The restricted system was reflected in restricted culti- 

 vation, for there were not many then who made the venture in a task 

 known to be hedged in with difficulties. But by degrees it was dis- 

 covered that all the kinds of Cinerarias, comprising all the qualities 

 of the finest named examples, might be secured by simply sowing a 

 pinch of seed, and giving it the usual cultivation of a tender annual. 

 There was one thing wanting to complete this item in the revolution, 

 namely, seed good enough for the purpose, a thing not everywhere 

 at command. The attention of cultivators was now diverted from 

 the tedious task of keeping stocks of named varieties from which to 

 propagate stock, to the more important one of raising the seed in 

 a scientific manner. Now that this has been accomplished, the cul- 

 tivation of the Cineraria has been brought within the reach of all, and 

 this lovely flower is grown by thousands who would not attempt 

 it under the old system, and the consequent gain to society is 

 immense. 



The foregoing is offered by way of illustration only. What has 

 been done with the Cineraria has its parallel in the case of a con- 

 siderable proportion of the most important garden flowers. It has 

 ceased to be needful to keep such large stocks of bedding and other 

 tender plants under glass through the winter, and very much of the 

 accustomed labour in striking and potting cuttings, as well as the 



