Flowers and Gardens 



hook downwards, and this Httle hook per- 

 mits the drooping. And how exquisite 

 is the result ! We have said that the 

 Httle flower-stalk is nearly straight. But 

 it must be saved from an appearance of 

 over-straightness, and this is effected by 

 the investing sheath-like bract, which 

 curves over it like a pruning-hook. Cut 

 away the bract, and notice how you spoil 

 the arch. Now take up the blossom, and 

 hold it upside downwards, with the cup 

 erect, the contrary position to that in 

 which it was meant to be seen. How 

 completely its loveliness has vanished ! 

 What an insipid flower it would be if that 

 were its natural posture, the petals want- 

 ing in breadth, the whole aspect destitute 

 of character! Everything is right if seen 

 just as was originally intended, and wrong 

 otherwise. 



But here a difficulty presents itself I 

 notice that the three inner petals are care- 

 fully ribbed on their internal surface with 

 bright green parallel veins, evidently for 

 the purpose of ornament, and that Nature 

 has furthermore taken the trouble to colour 

 the stamens orange, so as to complete the 

 harmony. Now, in the ordinary position 

 of the flower, the only position in which 

 it can appear beautiful as a whole, these 



8 



