SUGGESTIONS FOR DETERMINING THE MERITS OF FLOWERING PLANTS. 67 
a graceful object. In the same manner, an insignificant blossom, buried beneath 
a dense mass of noble foliage, excites feelings completely adverse to those of 
admiration. Utility is not a constituent of beauty in plants ; therefore, our 
considerations of this quality must be wholly banished when viewing them. 
Next to the general conformity of the different members of a plant, and the 
adaptation in the size and contour of their particular organs, their surface and 
colour may be examined. These apply principally to the foliage and flowers. 
Jjeaves are technically termed coarse when they are large, with great and numerous 
inequalities on their surface, and covered with strong hairs, bristles, or aculei. 
Neither of these characteristics are independent criteria ; and size, especially, is 
frequently co-existent with real beauty, when unaccompanied by any other detractive 
quality. Unitedly, however, they constitute the coarseness above mentioned ; 
while precisely the contrary properties are necessary to true elegance, or hand- 
someness. Their colour, whether it be of a light or deep shade, should be lively 
and clear ; and this is particularly desirable when the plants are what is termed 
evergreen. 
As the appearance of flowers is considerably deteriorated by association with 
insignificant or slovenly foliage, so, in a much greater degree, fine foliage alone 
can never compensate for the absence or inferiority of blossoms. Flowers are and 
must be regarded as the greatest ornaments of a plant, however fugitive they may 
be. It is important that they stand out boldly and advantageously to view, that 
their form be somewhat symmetrical, (though this must be taken in a very 
latitudinarian sense,) but chiefly that their colours should be clear, bright, and 
agreeable. 
Nothing, we believe, determines so much the opinion of an observer of a plant, 
as the colour of its blossoms. But this, when viewed apart from other considera- 
tions, proceeds from an erroneous and puerile taste. Hence, so many shabby- 
looking, and really uninteresting plants, acquire a degree of notoriety purely 
artificial, and which invariably subsides when the novelty of its object has ceased. 
By this means, also, persons of correct taste wholly disregard popular declarations, 
and many highly valuable plants are thus retained in that state of obscurity which 
their injudicious and incompetent appraisers alone merit. 
The preference for certain colours is a question which individual taste can 
decide ; although some are almost unanimously voted vulgar ; but the characters 
herein depicted are essential to real beauty. If the persons who cultivate plants 
for sale, and those who in any way describe them, would bear these principles 
continually in mind, their opinion would be regarded with greater deference and 
confidence, and the difi*usion of floricultural taste and practice would be greatly 
facilitated. Nor could it be otherwise than useful to the general cultivator, 
particularly to those who are frequently called upon to decide the merits of plants 
at horticultural exhibitions, as they would thus acquire that stability and assurance 
of judgment, which would ensure a cheerful acquiescence in their award. 
