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4. The ground colour should be dense, whole, and 

 form a perfect circle next the eye ; the brighter, 

 darker, or richer the colour, the better the flower ; 

 but if it be paler at the edges of the petals (where 

 they are parted into five) or have two colours or 

 shades, it is a fatal defect. 



5. The margin or outward edge should be a clear 

 unchangeable green, grey, or white, and be about the 

 same width as the ground colour, which must in no 

 part go through to the edge. From the edge of the 

 paste to the outer edge of the flower should be as 

 wide as from the centre of the tube to the outer edge 

 of the paste. 



In other words, the proportions of the flower may 

 be described by drawing four circles round a given 

 point at equal distances ; the first circle forming the 

 tube, the second the white eye, the third the ground 

 colour, and the fourth the outer edge of the flower,* 

 and the nearer they approximate to this (except that 

 the ground colour, and green or grey edge, run into 

 each other in feathery points) the better the flower. 



* Maddock has recorded against himself that he had no cor- 

 rect eye for the beauty of proportions, for he gives as the 

 standard of excellence (supposing the pip to be divided into six 

 equal parts) one to the tube, three to the paste, and two for the 

 ground and edge ! The offensive glaring effect of these propor- 

 tions are fully displayed in the illustration he gives at the end 

 of his Florist's Directory. 



