HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 73 



our modern genus and ppecies makers are far too numerous, and often jump 

 at conclusions which more practical experience would make them ashamed of. 

 If some of them were to take a full course of lessons in experimental hybri- 

 dization, and see the results, before beginning to divide and sub-divide the 

 beautiful harmony which exists in nature's links, into such an heterogeneous 

 jumble of confusion as nomenclatural botany is fast becoming to, the science 

 would be much benefitted. 



The Primrose and Cowslip not having come into such exclusive notice with 

 the florist as the Polyanthus has done, the standard of perfection has not 

 been so particularly defined. The Cowslip, although possessing much merit 

 as a beautiful flower, is overlooked for the greater perfectness of the Polyan- 

 thus, but over the latter his stringent laws claim dominion, and which are as 

 follows: The stem should be strong and erect, high enough to raise the truss 

 well above the foliage. The footstalks of the flowers should also be strong, 

 so as to support the pips well, and of a length sufficient to prevent crowding. 

 There ought to be not less than seven pips, which will form a compact and 

 well rounded bunch. The calyx should not be too much inflated, noryet too 

 narrow, but in proportion to other parts. The tube not longer than just to 

 allow the limb or upper part to clear the calyx, being well filled with anthers, 

 ■which should be regularly adjusted around the ftpper surface of the interior, 

 not projecting too high above, but even with the plane of the limb. When 

 the anthers project above the stigma the flower is technically known amongst 

 the old veteran florists as "Thrum Eye ;" without this peculiarity they 

 would invariably discard any flower, however good all other properties might 

 be. If the stigma is above the anthers it is called the Pine Eye. Many 

 will no doubt (and with some propriety) think that florist's rules are very 

 rigid, but it must be taken into consideration that perfection in symmetry, 

 and general beauty is their only argument in the language of flower's. The 

 eye should be of a bright and clear yellow, quite circular, and distinct from 

 the ground colour, which may be either a bright scarlet maroon, or rich black- 

 ish and velvety crimson ; in the centre of each division from the outer edge, 

 a narrow stripe of the same colour ought to traverse down to the eye, and 

 with this exception, a narrow but perfectly even band of bright yellow, of a 

 near approach to that of the eye ought to encircle the flower, proceeding 

 down to the eye between each division. The limb or upper part of the flower 

 should be flat, without any serrature, each segment being equal in size,- and 

 not cut in so deep as to appear at all starry, the whole exterior outline 

 forming a true circle, and the ten divisions equal portions of so many smaller 

 ones. 



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