On Gardeners' Flowers 



character in the rounding out of the 

 petals. Now as native character is al- 

 most always beautiful and impressive, 

 its loss must be reckoned serious. But, 

 on the other hand, we must take into 

 account what the plant has gained both 

 in character and beauty. See how many 

 new elements have arisen in the highly 

 cultivated shape, which were almost or 

 altogether undiscernible in the wild flower. 

 See how many old elements have acquired 

 new emphasis and power, which perhaps 

 had but little meaning till they were em- 

 bodied in a fuller form. And where 

 cultivation even seems to have diluted 

 the wild shape, a certain boldness and 

 dignity come in to atone for it. And 

 thus the balance of losses and gains is, 

 in many plants, extremely difficult to 

 settle. You feel that each has its in- 

 trinsic excellences. The round outline 

 of the cultivated Pansy is unmeaning as 

 compared with that of the wild flower, 

 whilst the wild flower looks poor beside 

 the garden one. Yet in laying great 

 stress upon the importance of character, 

 it must not be thought that any character 

 is valuable which depends upon mere 

 weakness or deficiency. Difference of 

 character must point to a different style 



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