THE 
FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
October, 1843. 
ON THE GENUS MIMULUS. 
WITH AN ENGRAVING OF SEEDLING VARIETIES OF M. CARDINALIS. 
Floriculture, like other arts, requires that from time to time 
new subjects should be brought under the notice of those who 
delight in the pursuit ; and, that the interest which conduces to 
the love of the science may not flag, it becomes the duty of all 
who wish it well, to produce, if possible, or promote, when 
produced, these new impulses. 
It would be a pleasing task had we space here to take a 
retrospective view of the advances made by Horticulture, and 
so of the general cause of civilisation, on the introduction of 
each of the several popular favourites of florists at the present 
day. It would be a thoughtless undertaking to pretend to 
number the admirers, nay the enthusiastic supporters of Flori¬ 
culture which the Dahlia, the Carnation, the Geranium, or the 
Fuchsia, has been the means of adding to the list of Flora’s 
votaries. 
But it may happen, and that from natural causes, that the 
interest excited by these several beauties may decline, either 
individually or collectively, or, as with other things, different 
tastes may require other and more varied subjects on which to 
lavish their spare moments and attention ; and hence the ne¬ 
cessity of constantly endeavouring to obtain these new impulsive 
subjects — for, by a strange fatality, though we are constantly 
aiming at perfection in these objects of our especial care, we 
no sooner arrive within reach of the ideal image than the 
interest ceases, and we leave the object of our former attention, 
VOL. IV. no. xi. 19 
