180 



SCIENCE OF GARDENING. 



Part II. 



flower is umbellate, as in cornus. Sometimes the proliferous issue of the full flower is not itself a flower, 

 but a shoot furnished witli leaves, as has been sometimes, thooigh rarely, observed in the case of the 

 anemone and rose. Such are the several varieties of luxuriant flowers, constituting anomalies of excess ; 

 but it sometimes happens that there is also in the flower an anomaly of defect in the absence of one of Its 

 parts. Examples of this sort are occasionally to be met with in the flowers of cherianthus cheri, cam- 

 panula pentagonia, and tussilago anandria, in which the corolla is altogether wanting, though 

 proper to the species; and in this case the flower is said to be mutilated. Sometimes the anomaly con- 

 sists in the situation of the flower, which is generally protruded from the extremity or sides of the branches. 

 But the flower of the ruscus is protruded from the surface of the leaf ; or it may consist in the relative 

 situation of the several parts of the flower. In simple flowers the pistil is invariably central with regard to 

 the stamens ; but in compound flowers the pistils are often situated in the circumference and the stamens in 

 the centre. This seems to be the case also with some monoecious plants having their flowers on the same 

 peduncle, as in the examples of the carex and arum, in which the stamens are more central than the pistils. 

 Sometimes the anomaly consists in the color of the corolla, which will often deviate even in the same species. 

 The general color of the common cowslip {Priinula veris) is a bright yellow ; but an individual is occasionally 

 to be met with, though very rarely, in which the limb or expansion of the corolla is purple with a line of 

 yellow around the border. Sometimes the anomaly consists in the time of flowering. The season proper 

 for the flowering of the apple and pear tree is the month of May ; but trees of that sort have been known to 

 protrude both buds and blossoms even in the month of November. Some plants, however, blow only in the 

 winter, as in the case of the laurustinus and arbutus unedo; while others blow only in the night, and 

 refuse to expand their petals to the light of the sun. Such is the case of the cactus grandiflorus, that 

 produces one of the most magnificent of flowers j but blows only in the night; and is hence known also 

 by the appellation of the night-blowing 

 cereus. Some plants, such as the ferns, 

 algae, and fungi, are altogether destitute 

 of conspicuous flowers ; and are hence 

 called Cryptogamous ; but in this respect 

 the fig is perhaps the most singular. The 

 flowers which in other cases uniformly 

 precede the fruit, are in this case concealed 

 within what is generally denominated the 

 fruit ; as may be proved by cutting open a 

 green fig {/ig.61. a) by means of a longitudi- 

 nal section passing through its axis. Great 

 numbers of flowers [b) are tiien disco- 

 vered lining a sort of cavity in the axis 

 of the fruit ; and hence what is called the 

 fruit or fig, in common language, is rather 

 the receptacle of the flower than any thing 

 else. Most plants have their flowers, fur- 

 nished both with stamens and pistils, and 

 are hence hermaphrodites : but there are 

 also many genera that have the stamens 

 in one flower and tlie pistils in anotiier, 

 both on the same individual ; these are 

 denominated Monoecious plants, and are 

 exemphfied in the oak anci hazel. Other 

 genera have the flowers with stamens on 

 one plant, and the flowers with pistils on 

 another; these are denominated £)/«'c/- 

 otis, and are exemplified in the hop and willow. Others have flowers of all the previous kinds on one and 

 the same plant; these are denominated Polygamous, and are exemplified in the genus Atriplex. 



807. The fruit. The anomalies of the fruit may affect eitlier its number, figure, color, 

 or appendages. The common hazel-nut produces in general but one kernel in one shell ; 

 but in the course of opening up a considerable number, you will now and then meet witli 

 one containing two or three kernels in a shell. 



62 



This is perhaps best accounted for by supposing, with Du Hamel, that 

 it is the result of an unnatural graft effected in the bud ; though some 

 think that the shell does always contain the rudiments of two or more 

 kernels, although it rarely happens that more than one is developed. 

 But if two apples or pears are developed in an incorporated state, whicli 

 is a case that now and then occurs, it is no doubt best accounted for by 

 the graft of Du Hamel. Sometimes the anomaly consists in the figure 

 of the fruit, which is deformed by tumors or excrescences, in conse- 

 quence of the bite of insects, or injuries of weather producing warts, 

 moles, or specks. Sometimes it consists in the color, producing green 

 melons and white cucumbers. Sometimes it consists in an append^e of 

 leaves. C/ig-. 62.) 



808. Habit. Some plants, which, when placed in a rich 

 soil, grow to a great height and affect the habit of a tree, 

 are, when placed in a poor soil, converted into dwarfish 

 shrubs. 



This may be exemplified in the case of the box-tree ; and so also in the case of herbaceous plants ; as in 

 that of myosotis, which in dry situations is but short and dwarfish, while in moist situations it grows to 

 such a size as to seem to be altogether a different plant. The habit of the plant is sometimes totally altered 

 by means of cultivation ; the pyrus sativa, when growing in a wild and uncultivated state, is furnished 

 with strong thorns ; but when transferretl to a rich and cultivated soil the thorns disappear. This 

 phenomenon, which was observed by Linnjeus, was regarded as being equivalent to the taming of animals. 

 But this explication IS, like some others of the same great botanist, much more plausible than profound, 

 in place of which Professor Willdenow substitutes the following: The thorns protruded in the uncul- 

 tivated state of the plant, are buds rendered abortive from want of nourishment, which when supplied 

 with a sufficiency ot nourishment, are converted into leaves and branches. 



809. Physical virtues. When plants are removed from their native soil and taken 

 into a state of culture, it alters not only their habit but their physical virtues. Thus the 

 sour grape is rendered sweet, the bitter pear pleasant, the dry apricot pulpy, the prickly 



