156 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



in every garden. There is also a double variety, which is 

 cultivated in the green-house, but is rare in this country, as 

 well as many others. 



We have now to record another new variety in color, 

 Tropaolum azureum, which was first discovered by a Mr. 

 Miers, in his travels in Chili ; the thing appeared so impro- 

 bable among florists, that little confidence was placed in the 

 statement, for it was regarded by those versed in colors, as 

 matter of doubt, whether species of flowers that produce a 

 pure yellow, as the Stersion, could also produce the blue. 

 No analogy could be found ; for instance, we have the dou- 

 ble yellow Dahlia, but no blue ; a blue flower may sport to 

 red or white, but, not to yellow. Again, yellow flowers may 

 sport to white, or red of different shades, but not to blue. 

 The primitive color of the Hyacinth is a blue ; we often 

 see catalogues with yellow ones in it, but it is apale yellow 

 ochre color, not a bright yellow. We have the yellow 

 Rose, but who ever saw a blue one ? Neither have we 

 seen the yellow Pelargonium (Geranium). But to the sub- 

 ject ; we have to state a fact, that Tropaolum azureum, a 

 blue Nasturtium, has been introduced into England by a 

 nurseryman of Exeter, which was discovered by a Mr. 

 Lebb, near Valparaiso, in South America. From the no- 

 velty of such a plant, being in opposition to the long argued 

 system of metamorphosis of colors in flowers, it commands 

 a high price. 



All of this tribe will grow readily from cuttings ; but in 

 propagating that way, the plants are shy in seeding. This 

 plant, strictly speaking, i's perennial, but is cultivated as an 

 annual, except the double variety; and, of course, the blue 

 will be cultivated the same way for years to come. 



