A SECRET OF THE CHARM OF FLOWERS 151 



human association in a purple flower is greatest 

 when this colour (as in the human face) is placed 

 side by side or fades into some shade of red or 

 pink. I think we may see this even in a small 

 flower like the fumitory, in which one portion is 

 deep purple and all the rest of the blossoms a 

 delicate pink. Even when the red is very 

 intense, as in the common field poppy, the 

 pleasing expression of purple on red is very 

 evident. 



To return to pure reds. We may say that 

 just as purples in flowers look best, or have a 

 greater degree of expression, when appearing in 

 or with reds, so do the most delicate rose and 

 pink shades appeal most to us when they appear 

 as a tinge or blush on white flowers. Probably 

 the flower that gives the most pleasure on 

 account of its beautiful flesh -tints of different 

 shades is the Gloire de Dijon rose, so common 

 with us and so universal a favourite. Roses, 

 being mostly of the garden are out of my line, 

 but they are certainly glorious to look at — 

 glorious because of their associations, their ex- 

 pression, whether we know it or not. One can 

 forgive Thomas Carew the conceit in his lines — 



