4O Woodside. 



some variability in its composition, and in roses, as in many 

 other plants, one of the most ordinary modes of variation is 

 for a stamen to become a petal. But the stamen is necessary 

 for the reproduction of the flower, and hence Nature does 

 not allow this variation to go on to any great extent. We 

 find, however, that some plants have a greater tendency to 

 undergo this change than others, and man, by selecting such 

 plants, increases such inherent tendency in the flower. Take 

 a common garden rose ; instead of the five simple petals and 

 hundreds of stamens of the wild rose, the petals are here 

 innumerable, the stamens few in number ; and if you pull 

 asunder one of these flowers and carefully examine the 

 petals nearest to the centre of the flower you will frequently 

 have difficulty in determining whether they be really petals 

 or stamens, since they partake of the structure of both. 

 Nature always varies, as I have said ; she is never constant. 

 Man seizes on any variable element, and is able to turn 

 it to his own use and purpose. 



If we glance over the plant- world as a whole, we shall notice 

 how true it is that Nature aims at simplicity of floral arrange- 

 ment ; those plants that are marked by this simplicity are, 

 as a rule, the more ancient; those marked by complexity, 

 in which some special part of the flower has undergone 

 modification, usually in order to allow some particular 

 insect or insects to carry out the work of fertilisation, 

 are the more modern. As we examine these modifications, 

 by means of which a more perfect result is obtained by 

 Nature's humble servants, we feel with the poet that 



" There's not a flower 



But shows some touch in freckle, streak, or stain 

 Of His unrivalled pencil." 



