6o PLANTS: THEIR NATURAL GROWTH 



in the garden of one of our friends in Dean's Yard, beneath the shadow of Westminster Abbey, a 

 remarkably fine plant of it has been growing for a long time, and as healthy, apparently, in spite 

 of its curious habitat, as if it grfew in the midst of the purest country air. It is quite unknown 

 how it originally got there, but having made good its footing, it is now scrupulously preserved. 

 Herefordshire and Worcestershire supply, the greater amount, between 300 and 400 tons weight 

 being transported thence annually to London and other large towns. The supply would appear 

 to be almost inexhaustible, as in the cider districts it is calculated that from thirty to ninety per 

 cent, of the apple trees yield it. Its presence in an orchard is an indication of approaching decay, 

 and also the not remote cause of a rapid acceleration of it, as it speedily exhausts the branch from 

 which it springs, and the tree ultimately perishes, overcome in the unequal struggle, and becomes, 

 to quote Shakespeare — ■ 



" Forlorn and lean, 

 O'ercome with moss and baleful mistletoe." 



Besides being found on its favourite tree, the Apple, it occasionally is met with on the 

 white and black Poplars, Willow, Hawthorn, Lime, Aspen, Alder, Crab, Maple, Mountain Ash, 

 Hazel, common Ash, and some few other trees ; never on the Holly, Cherry, Walnut, or Beech, 

 and so rarely on the Oak, only some six or seven authentic cases being recorded, that that no 

 doubt greatly increased the reverence the ancient Britons felt for it, great rejoicings and sacrifices 

 taking place when the sacred Oak bore this symbolic plant growing in mystical vigour, without 

 taint or contact of the earth. From this early association with the solemti Druidic rites, the plant 

 has been excluded from Church decoration ; to compensate however for this, it is one of the most 

 welcome plants that deck the dwelling at Christmas, having a wealth of meaning that its compeers, 

 the ruddy Holly, the Ivy, and gloomy Yew, cannot emulate. In some parts of the country it is 

 customary for the people, who have sufficient faith in it, to go out on New Year's Eve, and gather 

 a bough to be hung up at the midnight hour, to ensure good fortune in the opening year. 

 Fortunately the commonest, that found on the Apple, is held to be most efficacious, though that 

 from the Poplar is almost equal to it in virtue. 



The remaining designs, based on various foliate and floral forms, call for but little comment 

 Figs. 332, 334, are repeating diapers founded on the square, and filled with Trefoil- and Ivy-like 

 leaves; the design between them, fig. 333, complete in itself, is suggested by the Maple leaf 

 and fruit. Fig. 335 is founded on the alternate growth seen in many leaves, edc. Water Cress 

 ( Nasturtium officinale) ; Hedge 'M\Ji5t3^r6i( Sisymbrium officinale); Mignonette f Reseda lutea);VJ ood 

 Vetch (Vicia sylvatica). Fig. 336 is suggested by the form of leaf-growth termed verticillate, as 

 in the Goose-grass (Galium aparine), or the Woodruff (Asperula odorata) ; while the remaining 

 illustrations on plate XLIII. are derived from various treatments of opposite leaf growth. Fig. 

 337, with its variation in the size of the segments, has its natural type in such leaves as the 

 Agrimony (Agrimonia Eupatorium) ; the Meadow-Sweet (Spiraea Ulmaria) ; of the Silverweed 

 (Potentilla anserina). The feature seen in fig. 339, the pairing of leaves of different sizes, is seen 

 naturally in the Dwale (Atropa Belladonna) ; while the opposite growth of leaves alike in each 

 pair, as shown in figS: 338, 340, is the commonest form of all in Nature ; the Pimpernel (Anagallis 

 arVensis); Red Dedid-^ettle (Lamium purpureum) ; the Ragged Robin (Lychnis fios^cuculi) ; the 

 Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) ; Moneywort ( Lysimachia nummularia) ; and Germander Speedwell 

 (Veronica Chamosdrys), are but a few examples. 



The illustrative designs on plate XLIV. are based on various forms of leaves, lobed, as in 

 :figs. 341, 346; radiate, as in figs. 345, 347; sagittate, as in fig. 342; palmate, as in figs. 348, 

 350 ; cordate, as in fig. 349. 



In the introduction of any vegetable form into ornament, the leading lines should (fig. 

 345) be clearly represented. It is often a good feature to let the ornament spring from the 

 bounding form, as in figs. 341, 350, hence Early English stonecarving is superior in effect to 

 Decorated ; as, in the first, all the forms introduced can be traced to their origin, and spring from 

 one of the enclosing m'ouldings, while, in the second period, the foliage is wreathed around the 

 capitals in a way that suggests accidental adhesion, rather than vigorous offshoots of growth. All 

 good treatment of natural forms is to a certain extent conventional, and influenced by the position 

 the design is to occupy. Nature must not be merely applied. In all good periods of ornamental 

 art it will be found that certain modifications have become necessary to fit the natural forms for 

 their new purpose, the nearer the approach to the pictorial the less are they fitted to enter into a 

 decorative scheme. The distinction drawn between fine and decorative art is a very just one, 

 though we are not prepared to admit the necessary inferiority of the latter, a point too commonly 

 assumed as proved. Each has its legitimate function and its independent sphere. We need not 

 here dwell at any length on the principles of ornamental art, as we have already done so in other 

 works, and it does not seem advisable to repeat here matters already dwelt upon ; besides, the 



