SEEDLING FLORIST’S FLOWERS. 
131 
With regard to the colours of various flowers and their dispo¬ 
sitions, many ingenious theories have been propounded, though 
none are quite reconcileable in all their assertions to facts which 
occur among vegetation. It is not long since it was deemed 
impossible that cerulean and xanthic colours could exist in the 
same genus; instances of the contrary, however, are by no means 
scarce, not only in the same family but in individual flowers, 
and therefore the impossibilities of former times may yet be 
accomplished. Blue dahlias, roses, or pseonies would not cause 
the surprise now that would have hailed them a few years since. 
It is to cross-impregnation that the florist owes his chief 
opportunities of regulating the colours of his productions. Soil 
may have something to do with their intensity, but will never 
permanently affect them; but by crossing, he may so funda¬ 
mentally change both their tone and arrangement as to consti¬ 
tute a positive alteration, and thus originate new varieties, and 
here begins his power over the plants cultivated. By a proper 
knowledge and judicious exercise of this power, the prospective 
character of his seedlings may be almost foreknown, or at least 
the danger of degenerating can be avoided, and having definitely 
settled the proposed object, whether it be increase of size, im¬ 
proved form, or brighter colours, he has only to select the most 
promising varieties to operate on, and continue in an unde¬ 
viating course till it be attained. It is true, there are some 
flowers so thoroughly broken into the habit of sporting, as to 
produce seedlings quite distinct one from another and their 
parent, without crossing, and it may be argued that with them 
the trouble of artificial impregnation is unnecessary ; but the 
increased probability of securing an improvement in the seed¬ 
lings, and the chance of directing their variations in the most 
desirable way, must be worth the little pains necessary to secure 
seed of the right sort, especially if we consider the subsequent 
trouble, which may be all thrown away, unless attention is given 
to this part of the subject. Those who entertain a notion of 
attempting the growth of seedlings should therefore take time by 
the forelock, and in the course of the ensuing blooming season 
secure for themselves, and of their own growing, the seed most 
suitable to their purpose. How to obtain seed from the best 
flowers is often a puzzling matter, for whether double or single, 
