258 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



the different plants ripen seeds in this country I admit 

 its futility, and when such plants are crossed, they are of 

 short duration, because, being opposite to the laws of na- 

 ture, or, as botanists may term it, being of diseased consti- 

 tution, it brings on a natural decay, and thus ceases to exist. 

 There is much to learn on this subject ; and it is to be re- 

 gretted that every florist is not a botanist, as many errors 

 in regard to plants could be easily corrected. It is evident 

 that the seed pod of the Stock producing the double flowers 

 is diseased, as may be discovered in their malformation, by 

 being a little drawn out of shape ; but whether the seed be 

 also diseased, is a question of mere speculation. 



If the seed of the Balsams are improved by keeping 

 several years, would not the Stock also improve by the 

 same treatment? Many statements made by botanists 

 years ago are now considered nugatory. The unders*and- 

 ing is enlarged by education ; and, once enlightened, it 

 is the nature of mankind to be delving into the merits, 

 causes, and effects of things. So it is with the florist in 

 his researches, as well as the botanist. Cultivation has 

 done much in the improvement of flowers the monstro- 

 sity of the vegetable kingdom appears strange in the ano- 

 maly of nature, but double flowers are so apparent as to 

 create no doubt ; but the mystery of producing, or rather 

 the cause, is not so fully explained as may appear at first 

 sight ; still the age of seed may in some degree have a 

 tendency to weaken the germinating properties of the 

 seeds, and cause them to produce stamens instead of pe- 

 tals. In this way the seed may be diseased, and yet pro- 

 duce strong plants. 



