IMPROVEMENT OF GARDEN FLOWERS 97 



of principles of taste. If we are to grow plants for 

 their flowers alone, the flowers should be as large as 

 we can make them and the leaves as small. If the 

 leaves are not to be seen for the flowers so much the 

 better. But if we are to consider the natural char- 

 acter of each individual plant, then we should take care 

 that the flowers are not so large as to obscure that nat- 

 ural character, and in particular to interfere with the 

 plant's natural habit of growth. If a wild plant bears 

 its flowers on strong upright stalks, we should not make 

 these flowers so heavy that the stalks cannot support 

 them without being staked. If a wild plant bears 

 large flowers and has a compact habit of growth, we 

 should not dwarf it till it looks like a hunchback. If 

 the flowers naturally have great beauty of form, we 

 should not double them so as to destroy that beauty 

 on the chance of obtaining another beauty of colour. 

 To object to all double flowers would be pedantic. 

 There are many plants that depend for their flowering 

 beauty upon a mass of blossom, and it may often be 

 increased and prolonged by doubling as in the case 

 of the double Arabis, the double Genista tiactoria, 

 and the double Silene maritima. In other cases the 

 beauty of the flower is in colour rather than in form; 

 and the colour may often be intensified by doubling 

 as with the Dahlia, the Carnation, many Roses, and 

 most Chrysanthemums. There are certain forms of 

 flowers that are obviously imsuited to doubling; others 

 that can often be improved by it. Thus bell-shaped 

 flowers, such as those of most Campanulas, or trumpet- 



