February i, 1883. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 91 
and subsequently at greater length in Nature. He divides the 
subject into five parts, under the heads — 1, Origin of Petals; 
2, General Law of Progressive Colouration ; 3, Variegation ; 4, Re¬ 
lapse and Retrogression ; 5, Degeneration ; and under these heads 
a large number of interesting facts are discussed most ably, and 
afford abundant matter for reflection upon a curious and perplex¬ 
ing subject. The following is a general outline of his argument 
and the facts by which it is supported. First, the petals of 
flowers are considered to be metamorphosed stamens “ which 
have been set apart for the special work of attracting insects ; ” 
and “as the stamens of almost all flowers, certainly of all the 
oldest and simplest flowers, are yellow, it would seem naturally to 
follow that the earliest petals should be yellow too.” This tran¬ 
sition of form and function is illustrate 1 by reference to the 
Nymphaeas, Roses, Mesembryanthemuma, Orchids, and other cases 
in which it is found the stamens are converted into petals or 
organs serving a similar purpose. Under the second head—“ The 
Law of Progressive Colouration ”—a mass of facts are advanced, 
and the following conclusions are arrived at—namely, 1, “Most 
of the very simplest flowers are yellow,” the simplest flowers 
being described as those in which there is little or no irregularity 
or combination of petals, stamens, or carpels. 2, “ Many of the 
simpler flowers in each family (except the highest) are apt to be 
yellow ; ” highest here meaning those in which the greatest modi¬ 
fications occur. 3, “ The more advanced members of very single 
families are usually white or pink.” 4, “ The simpler members of 
slightly advanced families are usually white or pink.” 5, “ The 
most advanced members of all families are usually red, purple, 
or blue.” G, “ Almost all the members of the most advanced 
families are purple or blue.” 7, “ The most advanced members 
of the most advanced families are almost always blue, unless 
spotted or variegated.” It will thus be seen that Mr. Grant Allen 
attributes the range of colours found in flowers to their different 
stages of modification, commencing with yellow in the most 
simple, and advancing to blue in those that have been greatly 
changed by cross-fertilisation due to insect aid, especially bees, 
which, according to Sir John Lubbock, have a great preference 
for blue and purple shades. Before discussing the evidence on 
this point it may be well to mention that under the head “ Varie¬ 
gation ” are considered a number of apparent exceptions to the 
above rules, but in which different shades of colour are seen in 
one flower either in streaks, spots, or blotches, and indicate a 
corresponding modification, though in a different direction ; while 
a number of other seeming anomalies are referred to as examples 
of “relapse, retrogression, and degeneration.” 
The whole subject is most admirably and fairly treated, but 
several portions of it appear to me slightly defective, and some 
thoughts upon this I must reserve until another occasion.— 
L. Castle. 
(To be continued.) 
MY SUBURBAN GARDEN. 
(A COLUMN FOR AMATEURS.) 
My last “ column ” I perceive extended nearly to a page. 
I regret to have put so much pressure on your space, but experience 
will enable me to estimate more correctly. I must own I was 
surprised by the length of my last letter, and I will endeavour not 
to transgress so flagrantly again. As intimated, I have a little 
more to say on glass structures, I am confident from past ex¬ 
perience and mistakes that this subject is one of the first import¬ 
ance to amateurs, and 1 venture to think has not received the 
attention it deserves. 
The side lights of my plain but useful span-roofed greenhouse 
I have said are not of real service, and I may as well state the 
reason for arriving at this conclusion. Desiring to utilise the wall 
on the south side I planted Tomatoes along the base and trained 
them up the brickwork. They grew well, but I soon found that a 
height of 2 feet 9 inches was not sufficient for making the best of 
them, so they were trained up the glass as well, or altogether a 
height of 4 feet. Now, although the glass was hidden the plants 
in the house grew quite as well, and were in every respect as 
satisfactory as during the previous year, when the side glass was 
exposed ; in fact, the Tomatoes did not shade the plants materially, 
but only the pots, and I thought this an advantage rather than 
otherwise in hot weather. The light from the roof proved quite 
sufficient for the plants. 
My next advance in building was another step towards greater 
simplicity, as I determined to have no side lights, but simply 
brick walls and a glass roof. I remember just at that time visit¬ 
ing Mr. Bull’s new nursery and inspecting the ranges of span- 
roofed houses of, I apprehend, the most approved kind, and was 
a little amused, though I said nothing at the time, to see boards 
elevated on pot3 as close to the roof as possible at the base of the 
rafters, so that the banks of plants should slope to the path. 
“ Wbat is there to be amused at in this ?” does someone ask ? 
Well, nothing; and perhaps “amused” is not the proper word. 
Still it was curious to see side lights employed for lighting the 
inverted pots supporting the plants, for they served no other pur¬ 
pose, except, perhaps, facilitating the escape of heat from the 
house. As I did not wish to burn fuel to warm the outer air, pre¬ 
ferring to leave that to the sun, I decided on the course adopted, 
and 1 have had no cause to regret having done so. The house or 
pit affords me great delight, as one division supplies me with 
Cucumbers and Melons, the earlier plants followed by Tomatoes ; 
and the other contains plants of various kinds that need more 
than a greenhouse temperature, such as Gardenias, Bouvardias, 
and Tea Roses for buttonholes in winter, with Begonias and 
sundry other plants that my family and friends admire. 
This house is the same width as the other, but the walls exter¬ 
nally are only 2 feet high, while the path in the centre is sunk 
18 inches, the height from the floor to the roof being Sj feet; thus 
the majority of the plants on a flat stage are nearer the glass than 
if the angle were more acute, though a deeper pitch might perhaps 
be better for fruit-growing. In one division are side stages, and 
the other pits with means of affording bottom heat when more is 
needed than is afforded by fermenting materials ; but these I 
prefer, as cheapest for use and best for the plants. This is a 
capital house, and has a most valuable adjunct outside—so valu¬ 
able that I would urge its adoption by all amateurs. There is 
nothing whatever novel about it, but, on the contrary, it is the 
essence of simplicity, while it is economical and efficient. It is 
simply a lean-to frame or pit running along both sides of the 
house. All that was needed was to run a wall 4^ feet from the 
house and parallel with it, and cover the intervening space with 
glass. The front wall is only a foot above ground, but a little 
excavating was done to afford head room for the plants. A flow 
pipe in the house was pierced, and an inch gas pipe attached, 
which was connected with a 3-inch pipe taken along the front of 
the pit, and attached to the pipe in the house at the other end in 
a similar manner. A valve enables me to turn the heat on and 
off the frame at will. If anyone can suggest a simpler, cheaper, 
and better method of making and heating a pit they will do good 
service by recording it; and those who have frames of this kind 
will, I am sure, admit their value. Calceolarias and Cinerarias, 
Cyclamens and Primulas, Bmvardias and Mignonette, bulbs and 
Lilies, Pelargoniums and Solanums luxuriate in them, and thus 
the frames prove feeders for the houses ; and one of them will, I 
am expecting, afford me a “feed” by-and-by of new Potatoes 
grown in pots, and another of Beans, for I dabb'e in almost 
everything in my endeavour to “always have something ; ” but it 
is certain I could not have what I have without these handy little 
lean-to pits. 
Under the stages of the warm house or pit are stored Caladium=, 
Gloxinias, Achimenes, Gesnerias, and Tuberous Begonias, as I find 
they keep better there than in a cold house. On examining them 
I find they arc quite fresh and sound, and must soon be started 
into growth. It was from here my Christmas Rhubarb was had, 
and Seakale is now ready. Under the stage of the cool house are 
stored early Potatoes, also Dahlias and flower pots, while good 
crops of Mushrooms are had sometimes, these as a rule bothering 
me and my factotum more than anything ; but we are improving. 
I intended referring to outside affairs this week, but feel I am 
encroaching, and I must tell auother time of my mountain of 
gold.—M. D. 
Amongst other damage caused by the storm of last Friday, 
the Winter Gardens and Conservatory at Southport 
suffered considerably, portions of the roof being blown in, 
and workmen had to be called up during the night to shore up 
the front facing the sea. The Botanic Gardens and National 
Schools also suffered. The wind w-as so violent during the night 
that it resembled the reports of artillery, and rendered the streets 
almost impassable. 
- Relative to Turner's Incomparable Celery, a corre¬ 
spondent expresses his surprise that such an experienced culti- 
