AN HOUR WITH THE HOLLYHOCK. 315 



not be realised, drawn from the inexhaustible stores of 

 nature? None, I ween. The florist is no mere dreamer. 

 He may be an ardent thinker, but he is an ardent worker 

 too ; and he has a right to expect a rare though not 

 unattainable success. Yes ; reasoning from analogy, he 

 has a right to expect this as the result of labour. Look at 

 what has been accomplished in other walks of floriculture. 

 Compare with the original species the Roses, the Dahlias, 

 the Pansies, which decorate our parterres, and behold there 

 the results of patient perseverance and unremitting skill. 

 If the improvements in these flowers have been less rapid 

 during the last few years, we must remember that they 

 have long lain under the hand of the improver, and, as a 

 consequence, much of the work is done. But with the 

 Hollyhock almost a new field for speculation and experi- 

 ment lies open before us ; certainly this is no bare trodden 

 ground ; the grass is scarcely bent beneath our feet ; the 

 few alone have trampled on it. Why should we not unite 

 in one flower the desired qualities now scattered over half- 

 a-dozen ? If we are seeking form and fulness, we shall 

 find them in Beauty of Cheshunt and Honourable Mrs 

 Ashley. By bringing these in contact with such flowers as 

 Aurantia superba, Black Prince, and Napoleon, may we 

 not possibly raise varieties which shall combine the shape 

 and fulness of the former with the colours or habit of the 

 latter? If we wish to obtain flowers of any particular 

 colour, of increased size or substance, the most probable 

 means of so doing is to unite that colour with a flower 

 conspicuous for those qualities. Why should we not have 

 the colour of Scarlet King in combination with the shape, 

 size, and habit of Beauty of Cheshunt ? or a Black Prince 

 like Pourpre de Tyre ? We have yet no flower of a golden 

 yellow ; none even an approach to orange ! And although 

 we do not aspire to the prevision of the prophet or seer, 

 we venture to foretell the speedy acquirement of striped 

 and laced flowers equal in beauty to the finest pink or 

 carnation. Then as to substance, there is room for 



