42 
peating itself in the same manner as it began. In this 
way one number one comes first; a pair of number 
twos second ; four number threes third ; eight number 
fours fourth; and so on. The consequence is, that 
No. 1., being the oldest flower, opens first. All those 
numbered 2., being of the same age, and placed in the 
same position, open next; then follow all the threes, 
then the fours, and so on, according to their respective 
ages. If we now suppose that, instead of having 
one pair of arms terminated each by a flower, we 
have seven arms radiating from a common point, 
like the ribs of an umbrella, and each subdivided, on 
the same principle as the Laurustinus, a still more 
complicated arrangement of flowers and much seeming 
confusion would be the result. Nevertheless, it 
would by no means be confusion and uncertainty, 
but an exact and methodical arrangement. 
87. It will be found that in all cases the manner in 
which flowers open is fixed ; their order of expansion 
is subject to certain fixed rules, which the artist must 
carefully observe. In the Hyacinth the first to open 
is the lowest on the spike, that above follows, then the 
next higher up, and so on. In all plants something 
of the same kind is observable; usually the oldest 
flowers are the lowest and the youngest highest, 
sometimes the youngest flowers are the lowest and 
the older ones highest. Be the arrangement what it 
may, truth demands that arrangement to be care¬ 
fully observed. Take as an example the Chrysan¬ 
themum ; in this plant what is called the flower is in 
reality a considerable collection of flowers, having 
no stalks, and packed close together upon the flat 
circular expanded end of a branch, called a receptacle. 
It is the nature of this plant always to open its 
