310 Difference between Mixture and Variety. 



and the general effect is harmonious. In a mixture the most 

 opposite things may adjoin each other ; but in a variety- 

 things only adjoin which have a particular relation to one 

 another, and to the effect to be produced. But a mixture is 

 so universally desired by florists and gardeners, (see the Hor- 

 ticultural Society's practice, pp. 105. 128.) that there must 

 be something attractive in it ; and we shall, therefore, shortly 

 investigate the causes of its influence on the mind. 



The natural and constant effort of man is to acquire, and, 

 having acquired, to make known his acquisitions to others to 

 the greatest advantage. This is a first principle in our natures, 

 which will be taken for granted. The object of all art is to 

 call attention to the artist ; and hence, in a low state of any 

 art, attention will be called to low qualities of the artist's 

 mind — to the mere power of doing something — to the ex- 

 tent, or quantity, or number of things in our possession. 

 These qualities will command praise and admiration in a state 

 of society where the mind is too gross to derive enjoyment 

 from more refined expression, because it is always much easier 

 to surprise than delight. The mind requires long and con- 

 tinued culture before it can appreciate the higher beauties of 

 nature and art; but the most uncultivated individuals may be 

 startled and astonished by number and extent suddenly 

 brought before them. Now, the chief effect of mixing flowers 

 in beds, borders, or shrubberies, or exotics on shelves or 

 stages, is to surprise and confound by the apparent number of 

 sorts, — to impede the constant tendency of the mind to com- 

 prehend what is before it, — and, in short, to puzzle the spec- 

 tator. Such is the result of mixture; and we do not mean to 

 say that it is not a result worth something, but merely that it 

 is low in the scale of taste. It may be very suitable to minds 

 in a particular state of cultivation ; and there can be no ques- 

 tion of its convenience to a dealer either in plants or books, 

 who has not a very numerous assortment. But if there is any 

 thing better than mixture — any thing higher in the scale of 

 taste — that result must surely be worth attempting in the 

 present times and in this country, where society is both cul- 

 tivated and refined, and where the objects to be arranged are 

 not merely abundant, but so numerous, as to render arrange- 

 ment, on the principle of variety, necessary to their compre- 

 hension and enjoyment. Many gardeners and others assent 

 to this proposition, but are merely mistaken as to what con- 

 stitutes variety, thinking to produce that result by mixture. 

 We shall next, therefore, shortly investigate the principles of 

 variety. 



