WILD PLANTS WOETHY OF CULTURE. 



175 



when yellow blossoms as a class were scouted and rated vulgar — when 

 daffodils were not valued as indoor flowers. The Marechal Niel rose was 

 one of the first of yellow flowers that became popular and started the 

 "yellow fever " that culminated in the sunflower craze. Yellow daffodils 

 always grew in our meadows and copses, and they had been grown in 

 gardens in a tentative sort of way for two or three centuries before they 

 became really popular and abundantly improved from seed. Sometimes, 

 Shakespeare notwithstanding, a mere change of name leads to plants 

 becoming popular. The Japanese Funkias never become universally 

 grown and appreciated until a clever man called them " Plantain Lilies." 

 It has been argued that the name is wrong, because Funkias have nothing 

 to do with plantains, and that they are not true lilies ; but in practice we 

 often find that things "take" or "catch on " under euphonious names. 

 Another case in point may here be cited, namely, the beautiful and 

 variable race of yellow-anthered " Shirley Poppies," which were selections 

 from the common black-anthered "field poppy " {Papaver liJioeas) made 

 by the secretary of this Society some years ago. Selections from the same 

 parent had been made before and grown in a half-hearted way in our 

 gardens as the "French" or "carnation" poppy, but it lacked the 

 advantages of time and place, there was no strong individual will with 

 high ideals behind it, not even paternal love, let us say. Fortunately 

 authors need no patronage to-day, but the plants, and especially new 

 breeds or races and strains, are much the better for having earnG>st 

 sponsors, real strong-minded and independent cultivators, who firmly 

 believe in their beauty, in their utility, or at least in their sterling 

 adaptability to certain uses and ends. So you see, apart from improve- 

 ment, we must try to catch a propitious time, or we must wait until the 

 right time comes for their " coming out." Above all, select short and 

 pretty names for your seedlings, and make sure of a kindly godfather, 

 and don't resent kindly and independent suggestions. I have only one 

 more suggestion to make for this, I hope tlie time may be a propitious 

 one — and I have done. 



Conclusion. 



" All's well that end's well." — Anon. 



Just at present the air is full of good notions and ideas for more or 

 less permanent memorials of a great and good Queen. We hear of 

 books, pictures, statues, and memorial buildings of various kinds, but my 

 ow^n ideas of a great memorial to a great Queen and Empress would take 

 the shape of a park or tract of rough country as extensive and varied as 

 possible in soil and elevation, with ample wood and water supply, in and 

 on which to cultivate and preserve for ever the best of our English 

 trees, shrubs, and wild flowers. Such a plot or reservation might be 

 formed in every county as a sanctuary for all beautiful wild things. Modern 

 commercial, and industrial progress often means destruction and death to 

 the haunts and lives of our wild beasts and birds, and especially of the 

 flowers. If any wild animal is not in the game list, it has a bad time if 

 either " Hodge " or " 'Arry " own a gun. " If you see a rare bird, shoot 

 it," is the maxim of ninety-nine out of a hundred of such "sportsmen." 



