194 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
and turn with avidity to some newer and less perfect form : this 
is doubtless the effect of that flattering sentiment 3< creative 
power.” 
We have been induced to select our present illustration in 
consequence of an idea we entertain from its neat habit, its 
generally manageable character, and its already beautiful 
flowers, that it will ere long become a reigning favourite. In 
short we anticipate that a very few years will see this genus 
occupying the place so long and so well filled by Calceolaria, 
the original species of which, as is well known, are miserably 
diminutive things, with nothing to recommend them beyond 
their colour ; but we have seen with them what may be done by 
judicious management and perseverance. Now with the Mimulus 
how different is the beginning: we have a handsome, free-growing 
plant producing an abundance of flowers of almost ever}'- hue, 
between a pale rose-colour and the richest crimson, including 
orange. It is only in the form of the flower that any alteration 
is required or at all desirable ; at present they collapse, and 
much of their beauty is lost by this form. The point to be gained 
is an expanded flat surface with sufficient size in the petals 
individually to fill the spaces which occur when the flower in 
its present form is pressed out horizontally: how long it will 
require to obtain this description of form must depend on the 
attention they may command. The manner of doing it will be 
that which has been so successfully pursued with all other 
florist’s flowers, viz. sowing the seed of only the best varieties 
and preserving only the most promising of the seedlings ; from 
the ease with which these maybe obtained, and the little trouble 
they incur, we should say that almost every cultivator of the 
smallest pretensions might easily manage from fifty to a hundred 
annually; these may be planted in a bed to prove, and only the 
very best preserved to bloom another season : to the flower- 
gardener they are invaluable for this purpose, and when seen as 
we saw the bed from which our figures were taken, are sufficient 
to arrest the attention of the most indifferent. 
We are indebted to our friend Mr. E. Hamp, gardener to 
T. Thorne, Esq. of South Lambeth, for the opportunity of 
bringing them under the notice of our readers, and also for his 
subjoined treatment. We have confined our remarks in this 
paper chiefly to M. cardinalis, but it must be remembered the 
