114 
often adds to the beauty of the blossoms, but if 
more, it only debilitates the truss of flowers. 
In placing your pots on the stage, contrive 
to range them so that two flowers of the same 
kind, or nearly the same ground colours, may 
not stand together; by this pleasing mixture 
of colours you will give a delightful variety to 
the whole, and each flower will serve to con- 
trast and set off its neighbour. I beg to re- 
mind you, that self-coloured flowers of the 
first-rate quality add to the splendour and 
beauty of a stage of variegated flowers ; with- 
out them there is too much sameness and 
equality. 
" Now is the time, whilst your plants are in 
bloom on the stage, to make a general reform 
in the collection, by turning out flowers that 
you do not wholly approve of, or your own 
seedlings that have been tried, and are not 
worthy of preservation. 
Each flower should be marked with a tally 
of lead, and stamped with numbers ; or if more 
convenient, a slip of deal should be procured, 
and rub in with the finger, or a small brush, 
some white lead, and immediately, while wet, 
write the name or number with a black lead 
pencil, this will remain clear till the deal stick 
becomes rotten : a gallipot of white lead you 
