FLORICULTURAL REMARKS. 
131 
exhibited on the petals of the French marigold : and when its rich 
colours come to be blended with the self-yellow of its congener 
the African species, the latter, from its more robust habit, may 
become a much more desirable ornament. This last idea deserves 
to be acted on ; as a union of the two species is certainly not be¬ 
yond the bounds of practicability. 
A bed of seedling sweet-williams is another interesting feature 
in a flower-garden; merely from the pleasing exercise it affords 
of comparing the beauty of one flower with that of another, and 
selecting the best for transplanting or for future breeders. So 
beds of seedling carnations, picotees, or pinks, are amusing pro¬ 
ductions to those who are in pursuit of originating new varieties 
of these favourite flowers. I have been in the habit of looking at 
a bed of seedling carnations for these four years past; and I am 
delighted every season to observe the changes of colour and dupli¬ 
cation. which takes place from year to year ; though no first-rate 
florist’s flower has yet appeared in the assemblage. Notwith¬ 
standing this, the blooms are all beautiful, though comparatively 
of no value except for studying and observing their changes :— 
no care save weeding has been bestowed. 
Ten-week, and Brompton stocks, are not now so much run 
upon as they were formerly; though sweeter or gayer flowers are 
scarcely to be found when grown in perfection. These have 
unaccountably been superseded by German and Russian stocks, 
which are not to be compared with them either for scent or 
stately beauty. 
Hollyhocks, both the common and Chinese sorts, are principal 
ornaments of our shrubberies. They are very conspicuous plants, 
and have maintained a very uniform character for many years. 
But as some individuals of the Chinese species are better coloured 
and more double than others, it may be inferred that the whole 
are susceptible of improvement so as to be changed to what would 
be more inviting to the eye of a florist. 
A bed of Zinnias is another new feature in our flower-gardens, 
which are only admirable for the various colours and exactly 
regular forms of the blossoms. They are only half-hardy annuals ; 
but they are well worth cultivation. 
The old China Aster, so long cultivated in our gardens, and 
which, if there be any truth in the opinion that plants may be 
acclimatized, or naturalized in a colder climate than that of which 
