1S7S.] 
THE PHILOSOPHY OF FLORISTS’ FLOWERS—IV. 
99 
limiting outline. And it is the outline which 
for the most part suggests to the mind the 
idea represented by the figure, as has been de¬ 
monstrated by Retsch, in his celebrated illustra¬ 
tions of the German and English poets. 
“ An outline may be either general, of the 
whole flower under consideration, as the cup of 
a Tulip; or subordinate, as being contained 
with others within the general outline, as that 
of the blotch in the petal of a Pelargonium. 
This distinction it is necessary to enlarge upon, 
because, in judging of excellences or defects, 
what in the former would be a fault, in the 
latter would be a beauty. The two kinds of 
outline, having different offices to fulfil, require 
different properties for their perfection. 
“ For subordinate outlines, being always 
appended to, and controlled by, the leading 
idea of the -whole flower, admit, with manifest 
advantage, departures from perfect forms, 
which would be intolerable in the general one. 
Thus the eye of a Pansy, if clear, and not con¬ 
fused, is striking in proportion as it is made up 
of bold dashes and abrupt contrasts, presenting 
an uneven outline, which, if found in the 
flower which contains the eye, would condemn 
it to the dunghill. 
“ These and other similar instances, present¬ 
ing at first a difficulty to reconcile them with rule 
and reduce them to order, are, in fact, no ex¬ 
ceptions. They are examples of what our 
experience in everything is full of, that as in 
the material world every particle of matter is 
under the influence of an infinity of attractions 
on every side, the amount of each of which is 
nevertheless subject to an invariable law, and 
therefore the inclination of the particle towards 
any is reducible to the strictest scientific in¬ 
vestigation ; so, in the intellectual world, what 
are commonly supposed to be exceptions, are, 
in reality, only instances of the things coming 
within the superior influence of some other 
rule. Every rule is paramount in its own little 
circle, but that circle is in every case very 
small, because there are other rules on the 
subject which have an equal claim to be 
obeyed in their place, the interfering influences 
of which must have their due weight allowed 
to them. 
“ It is a great mistake, and dishonourable to 
God, as well as to ourselves, indolently to rest 
satisfied with calling so many things ‘ ex¬ 
ceptions,’ as we are in the habit of doing. An 
exception is, for the most part, only an expres¬ 
sion of our ignorance. Real exceptions are 
much rarer than they are supposed to be. Our 
minds were made for order; and however our 
habits may seem to contradict the assertion, 
it is still a fact bearing evidence of our high 
original and destination that disorder is un¬ 
natural to us. And this may be seen, not only 
in the natural preference always in the long- 
run shown for scientifically perfect forms, but 
also in the mode in which we unconsciously 
form our judgments of them. Thus, in ex¬ 
amining a flower, we may not be aware of the 
fact, but it is not the less true, that we proceed 
according to strict rule and method. First, we 
obtain a leading idea, excited by the whole, as 
made up of and containing its parts. Next, we 
begin to separate those parts into their respec¬ 
tive groups ; and as our examination is extended 
or repeated, subdividing those again into their 
more elementary units. And as we become 
more familiar, and better acquainted with the 
object of examination, this process is reviewed 
and altered, and the divisions and subdivisions 
recast into other groupings, arising out of, or 
suggesting, new and other ideas. So that we 
may often perceive, as we contemplate a flower, 
new ideas and associations arising in our minds, 
and actually, as it were, changing its appear¬ 
ance in our eyes, and altering our judgment of 
it.' Hence an extended familiarity with any 
flower is necessary before its characteristic 
points'will be discovered, and its most natural 
divisions and peculiarities definitely settled. 
But when this process has been sufficiently 
gone through, the judgment will, in most cases, 
be found to be in accordance with nature, and 
will be generally acquiesced in. • And a much 
earlier and more perfect agreement may be 
expected when the natural principles, in accord¬ 
ance with which our preferences are formed, 
are known and understood. ■ 
“ There is, then, always one leading idea sug¬ 
gested by any flower, controlled by the general 
outline of its form, and the disposition of its 
principal parts. This is the characteristic of 
the flower, to which all its other properties 
must be subservient. It is not always easy to 
express in words what this idea is, though when 
there is some other thing with which we are 
familiar to serve as an illustration, there is no 
difficulty. Thus the idea of a Tulip is a 
painted cup, and that of a Dahlia or a Ranun¬ 
culus is a variegated rosette. 
“ And as the general outline takes the lead 
in the impression produced by the flower, a 
defective form in it cannot be compensated, 
because there is nothing of equal value, by a 
counter-excellence in which it might be 
balanced. If, therefore, that outline be not 
full and graceful, the flower must needs be 
faulty. Such is the native Pansy, and there¬ 
fore its improvement depended on first bring¬ 
ing its general form into what it may now be 
said to have obtained, a near resemblance to a 
circle. The Cineraria is still defective in this, 
from its outline consisting of points.* And 
therefore its improvement, on the supposition 
of its continuing a single flower, first demands 
[* Since this was written, the general outline of the 
Cineraria has been to some extent improved by a partial 
widening and rounding of the individual ray florets ; and the 
idea of a double Cineraria has been realised.—E d.] 
H 2 
