ADVANTAGES OF REMOVING DECAYING FLOWERS. 
109 
there is a wide distinction to be drawn between the culture of a plant for fruit or 
seed, and one from which flowers alone are desired. If the fruit trees that exhibit 
an extraordinary crop of blossoms were to be deprived of their flowers shortly after 
these had faded, they would bloom with equal vigour in the next spring. And thus 
we elicit the truth on which our remaining deductions are founded. 
All plants bearing flowers (excepting only those few exotics that never ripen 
seed in Britain) are, it must be presumed, prepared to develop and mature the 
seed of whicli flowers are the precursors. Their energies are quite capable of 
elaborating the food necessary for that seed ; and, in short, whether the seed be 
perfected or not, the process of elaboration will go on in the plants. Now, by per- 
mitting this force to spend itself in the common and natural way, — i. <?., in producing 
seed, — the specimens are deprived of so much of their vital power, and have within 
them, consequently, a less provision for subsequent display. On the other hand, 
by taking away the flowers as soon as they begin to decay, the resources intended 
for the seed will be retained in the plants, and constitute a fund of supply, beyond 
the usual one, for the flowers of the following year. 
The philosophy, therefore, of the process we recommend is this : Nature, ever 
acting on a wise and definite plan, when she decorates a plant with its lovely 
blossoms, gives it, at the same time, the means wherewith to develop and perfect 
the little embryo within those blossoms. But man, by a timely abstraction of the 
flowers, husbands and stores the above means, to be brought into action at a 
future opportunity. 
Such being the principles on which the removal of fading flowers operates, it 
will be supposed, and not without reason, that the results of that practice are very 
manifest on some classes of exotics. Most persons are aware, though few, save the 
most zealous amateurs, act up to the conviction, that the blooming of many of the 
annual plants may be perpetuated till the arrival of frost by this simple means. 
Sweet Peas may be mentioned as a familiar example. Much more remarkable 
consequences than this are, however, to be realized. Some plants that die annually, 
if suffered to seed, will, when the flowers are cut off before the seed-vessel has had 
time to expand itself, last for two or more years, and even actually become quite 
shrubby in their habit. Helichrysum macranthum, Lisianthus Russellianus, and 
many others, are common illustrations of the first class, to which, indeed, almost 
every annual might be referred ; while the Tree Mignonette will well exemplify 
the last observation, as it is nothing but the annual kind sedulously relieved of its 
blossoms. The facility, moreover, with which annuals may be increased by cuttings 
is another proof of the striking effect of removing flowers ; and though, with regard 
to all annuals, it may be urged that the production of seed is the ultimate and 
prime object of their existence, which last cannot terminate, unless by accident, till 
that end is accomplished, and that thus their second crop of flowers, and even their 
continuance for years, are readily accounted for, the same reasoning will apply to 
almost every sort of vegetable which has an inherent capacity of reproducing itself 
