38 BRECK’S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. 
barbarism fo prefer the single flower; thus ignoring the 
culture and skill of the florist for past generations. Adam 
and Eve were put in possession of a truly botanic garden: 
God gave wild flowers as he made them, and left it with 
them and their successors in horticultural pursuits, to find 
their pleasure in making ‘improvements. 
But all flowers are not improved, even in the eye of an 
amateur, by the multiplication of the petals. 
The efforts of man to improve certain flowers are futile, 
Being perfect in themselves, any attempt to improve their 
beauty is almost impious, and results in failure. Take for 
example the white garden lily, a flower so perfect, pure, 
and comely, with its parts so distinct-and lovely. What 
an abortion and failure is the double flower: the upper 
leaves of the flower stem are transformed to petals, and 
we have the flower contorted into a lengthened assemblage 
of green leaves, passing into white, without form or grace, 
a ridiculous transformation of beauty into ugliness: it is 
a monstrosity indeed, and can only be retained in a collec- 
tion for its oddity. 
The Petunia is not improved in its double varieties. A 
few years since, they were all the rage; but are now 
* . . . ole 
generally discarded, as the fine improvéd single varieties 
are considered far superior. 
--The double Campanula media has no merit ; it may be 
likened to a nest of tubs or boxes. The large bell is filled 
with smaller bells in the same way. 
The double Nasturtium or Zropaolum is another ex- 
ample of a failure to improve; the centre of the flower is 
filled up with numerous contorted petals, and one not ac- 
quainted with it would not suppose it to be a Nasturtium. 
The Zinnia, one of the most unlikely flowers to be im- 
proved, has within a few years become quite a favorite in 
its double varieties. Instead of the rough and stiff form 
of the flower, with the ugly high disk in the centre, it has, 
