108 THE FLORIST AND 



cation between the two branches of the organic kingdom. As we descend 

 the scale of beings the distinctive characters of animals and vegetables tend 

 to efface themselves, and we arrive at last at those ambiguous productions 

 which the observer hesitates to class in one or the other ; for to whatever 

 kingdom we w T ish to refer them they will always have the -narrowest connec- 

 tion with the neighbouring one." The pretended destinctive characters 

 w T hich are true as long as we only apply them to perfect animals and vege- 

 tables, cease to be so when the organization lowers and simplifies itself. Is 

 not this transformation from animal into plant and from plant into animal 

 reciprocal passage from one kingdom to another, a magnificent subject of 

 study and worthy of profound meditation for the naturalist ; is it not a new 

 proof of the principle developed by the powerful genius of Liune, when he 

 wrote these words, prophetic then and since become an axiom, Natura non 

 agit per saltum : 



Everything connects itself; everything from man the most perfect animal ? 

 to the being placed lowest in the scale of creation ; all are linked by transi- 

 tions which in most cases escape the feebleness of our understanding ; and 

 the discoveries which modern science ought with just title to be proud of, 

 these discoveries can all be expressed in a single law ; Infinite variety of 

 forms, incessant transformation of organs, but, Absolute Unity in the work 

 of the Creator God. 



INDIGENOUS PLANTS. 



The perennial section of these plants is not so generally cultivated as it 

 deserves. Many of them demand a place in the flower garden, if for nothing 

 else than the beauty of their florescence, laying aside several adaptabilities 

 which they possess for such a place : but very seldom do many of them find a 

 place there. Perhaps the principal reason for this is, that there are few, if 

 any commercial establishments where a regular assortment is kept for sale, 

 therefore the lover of wild things has very limited opportunities to procure 

 them, except what he can procure in his own locality. He must take to the 

 woods and dales and gather them from their native habitation, which is not 

 always convenient to those who are pinched for time. A small collection 

 will give a succession of flowers for eight months in the year, some flower 

 very early and others very late in the season, and many will flourish in pla- 

 ces where but few other plants will; exposed and shady, dry and wet situations 

 may be planted with the sorts best suited for them. But it is not my inten- 

 tion at present to enter upon the subject in a large way, as circumstances 



