40 BRECK’S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. ; 
The genus Dianthus in all its species, ‘except Sweet 
William, and a few others, are greatly improved in their 
double state. The Carnation and Pink are examples of 
the perfection to which flowers may be made to attain. 
The Datura and other funnel-shaped as well as salver- 
shaped flowers, when double, lose their beautiful simplicity, 
and are monsters without beauty or perfection of shape; 
the same may be said of the Tulip, although some of the 
varieties are passable. The double Fuchsias, Azaleas and 
many other double flowers are no improvement. 
A multitude of other flowers might be named, which 
have been improved in the double varieties, as the 
Peonia, Camellia, Lychnis, Tuberose, Larkspurs, etc. 
ON THE COLOR OF PLANTS AND FLOWERS. 
Weare often asked why there should be such a diversity 
of color in plants of the same species, produced from seed 
of one flower when grown in the same soil, or what is the 
process by which it is produced, or the cause of any color 
in plants. A question more easily asked than answered. 
I once put this question to a celebrated chemist, supposing 
he might throw some light upon it. The answer was, 
“that there were many theories upon the subject, but noth- 
ing satisfactory had been discovered, and probably never 
would be.” It is the secret working ‘of the God of Na- 
ture, and unexplainable. In turning over the files of the 
Horticultural Journal, published in 1835-6-7-8, I find the 
following article upon the subject, from which, as it may 
