292 ALPINE FLOWERS. Part II. 



a 



kinds are now lost, and florists who really pay the flower any 

 attention are very scarce indeed. In consequence, however, of 

 the great facility with which varieties are raised from seed, 

 nobody need be without handsome kinds, and raising them will 

 prove interesting amusement for the amateur. The laws of the 

 florists are in this case of little more value than usual, but I 

 quote Maddock, because in the following passage he is de- 

 scribing a very beautiful type of the numerous variations of this 

 flower : " The ground colour is most to be admired when shaded 

 with dark rich crimson resembling velvet, with one mark or 

 stripe in the centre of each division of the limb, bold and dis- 

 tinct from the edging down to the eye, where it should terminate 

 in a fine point." He further says : " The pips should be large, 

 quite flat, and as round as may be consistent with their pecu- 

 liarly beautiful figure, which is circular, excepting those small 

 indentures between each division of the limb which divide it 

 into five or six heart-like segments. The edging should re- 

 semble a bright gold lace, bold, clear, and distinct, and so nearly 

 of the same colour as the eye and stripes as scarcely to be dis- 

 tinguished. In short, the Polyanthus should possess a graceful 

 elegance of form, a richness of colouring, and symmetry of parts 

 not to be found united in any other flower." Here, however, as 

 in most similar cases, the general cultivator will do well to select 

 the most diverse of the varieties that he may raise from seed or 

 otherwise become possessed of, and not be tied by any conven- 

 tional rules. 



As to the capabilities of the various kinds of Polyanthus, it 

 would be difficult to name a hardy flower so generally useful. 

 The finer varieties are worthy of a place on rockwork amidst the 

 choicest alpine plants ; the showier ones do for bedding in the 

 spring garden. Numbers of the vigorous varieties so easily 

 raised from seed will form the most appropriate ornaments that 

 can be massed alongside of shady walks in pleasure-grounds. 

 Some may be employed as edgings. Many varieties are worthy 

 of being abundantly naturalised in pleasure-grounds and along 

 wood walks ; and, as we all know, the enthusiastic florist grows 

 the finer ones in pots. They are perhaps scarcely so much to be 

 recommended for using in masses in the spring garden as are the 

 finer varieties of the Primrose— requiring, in fact, to be seen rather 

 closely to be admired ; but wherever flowers are placed for their 

 individual beauty rather than for their mere effect as colouring 



