S52 WOOD AT^D GARDEN 



when its habit is dwarfed to a mean degree of squat- 

 ness, it looks to me both ugly and absurd, whereas 

 a reasonably double one, well branched, and two feet 

 high, is a handsome plant. 



I also think that Stocks and Wallflowers are much 

 handsomer when rather tall and branching. Dwarf 

 Stocks, moreover, are invariably spattered with soil ia 

 heavy autumn rain. 



An example of the improver not knowing where to 

 stop in the matter of colouring, always strikes me in 

 the GaUlardias, and more especially in the perennial 

 kind, that is increased by division as well as by seed. 

 The flower is naturally of a strong orange-yellow colour, 

 with a narrow ring of red round the centre. The 

 improver has sought to increase the width of the red 

 ring. Up to a certain point it makes a livelier and 

 brighter-looking flower; but he has gone too far, and 

 extended the red till it has become a red flower with 

 a narrow yellow edge. The red also is of a rather 

 dull and heavy nature, so that instead of a handsome 

 yellow flower Avith a broad central ring, here is an ugly 

 red one with a yellow border. There is no positive 

 harm done, as the plant has been propagated at every 

 stage of development, and one may choose what one 

 will ; but to see them together is an instructive lesson. 



No annual plant has of late years been so much 

 improved as the Sweet Pea, and one reason why its 

 charming beauty and scent are so enjoyable is, that 

 they grow tall, and can be seen on a level with the 



