Plate 142. 
NEW DISK-SHAPED NEMOPHILA. 
We have in our previous volumes had the opportunity of 
figuring some desirable varieties of this very pretty and well- 
known annual. The very elegant A. discoidalis elegans , sent 
out by Messrs. Charlwood and Cumins, has been greatly ad¬ 
mired; and now the well-known firm of Carter and Co., of 
High Holborn, have added the sterling variety figured in our 
present Plate. 
Whatever may be thought of the relative value of bedding- 
plants and annuals, there are few, if any, who would be willing 
to neglect the different members of this neat-growing and free- 
flowering family, and consequently in every garden, both small 
and large, they are to be found; the bright and clear blue of in- 
signis producing a charming effect in the early spring months, 
varied as it now may he with the many additions which have 
been made from time to time; and we imagine that this new 
variety will be as much esteemed as its predecessors. 
Nemophila discoidalis vittata , as it has been described by 
Messrs. Carter, the raisers, was obtained from seed amongst 
the large quantities of the various kinds grown by them at 
their seed farms in Essex. These varieties are doubtless due 
to the visits of insects, especially the smaller moths, who, in 
endeavouring to rifle the flowers of their nectar, carry away 
with them some of the pollen adhering to their proboscis, and 
in inserting it into another, effectually impregnate the plants. 
This Mr. Darwin has shown to be the case in Orchids, and 
there is no doubt that this also the way in which many of the 
smaller flowers, such as Verbenas, (as clearly shown by Mr. 
Miller in the ‘Companion to the Floral Magazine’ last month,) 
have their varieties so multiplied. It would be almost impos- 
