none but those whose petals, many or few, are of the right kind. A semi-double variety with good petals is infinitely better to save seed from than the most double flowers which are deficient in that particular; and no flower offers so much opportunity and so much room for improvement.

These rules are now acted upon throughout the country, more or less. In some few places, however, where the marking of the flower is considered of higher importance than the form, they still treat the pink as a semi-double flower; and if they can get two rows of petals, and two to stick up back to back, they think it enough, and therefore exhibit loose, flat, ill-looking specimens, which among the florists more advanced in taste would be thrown away; and as a handsome double flower would make such things very ridiculous, they actually pull out the petals of any that would by their superior form and character show the semi-double varieties off to a disadvantage, and reduce them to the miserable state of the majority. The varieties, therefore, which will do well enough for some localities, would be considered a complete take-in if sold in the south: but the difficulty of making a man adopt an improved race, when it renders all his present collection worthless, is by no means easily got over; and the facility with which he can raise the sorts good enough for such easily-pleased people, increases the difficulty. In a quantity of seedlings raised near London, one great improvement in the kinds we already possess, in a hundred or two, would satisfy a man, and of the remainder, which he would throw to the dunghill, there could be a

score semi-double varieties that would be acceptable where the miserable things we speak of are shown. It is, therefore, not likely they should adopt hastily a style of pink which would condemn their starvelings to destruction; and that the public may not see the contrast, they reduce our best varieties to two rows of petals, when obliged to show them. Time, however, has done wonders, and will continue, in spite of a vitiated taste and opposing interest, to make inroads upon the easily procured but worthless kinds which, for the present, form the majority of collections in particular localities; though every year lessens the ground they occupy, and narrows the influence of the florists, who obstinately defend a race of flowers half a century behind the improvements of the southern cultivators.

THE PROPERTIES OF ANNUALS.

As there is no answering for what seed will produce unless it can be kept very distinct, little or no dependence can be placed on the continuance of some things, however well they may come one season. The encouragement to produce extraordinary novelty and beauty is not so great, because there are no means of continuing it with certainty. However, much has been done by "roguing," as it is called, that is, removing all that are bad, the moment they open; and to decide this, we must first determine what

constitutes perfection in Annuals; without going to individual forms of flowers, so different in their nature, there are some points that apply to all, and among them, the following are important.

The first, then, is great quantity of flower to small quantity of foliage, so as to form a mass of colours without the green being conspicuous. This may be illustrated by Nemophila insignis, which forms a bright blue carpet, and Clarkia pulchella, which does not.

The second quality is necessary to the first; breadth of petal, even to the filling up of all flowers with divisions so as to become circles, illustrated by the Phlox Drummondi, and Virginian Stock, both divided flowers, but the former filling up to a circle, the other narrow, and therefore presenting less surface of colour.

The third, smoothness of edge, by which neatness is preserved, and the eye not offended with raggedness, and confusion, illustrated by the Double Stock, and Ragged-Robin.

The fourth, elegance, and compactness of form, as pleasing to the eye and associated with neatness, illustrated by the dwarf Larkspur, and the branching.

The fifth, thickness of petal, by which the bloom is prolonged, and preserved in good condition, illustrated by Candytuft, and the different Poppies.

The sixth is colour. In florists' flowers, where a great variety is an object, denseness of colour is all we care about, because we want as many shades as we can get; but in Annuals, brilliance is an object. Dull leaden-coloured blues, dirty

buff yellows, and heavy brick-coloured reds, are all bad.

The seventh is continuous blooming, a character that stamps a value upon many otherwise only moderately estimated Annuals; some are short-lived, in flower, and out again in an incredibly short time. Others continue growing and blooming as long as the frost does not interfere. The old yellow Lupin, and also the old blue, are soon out of bloom. The Larkspur, beautiful as it is, soon flowers out its spike, and there is an end of it, while the Coreopsis keeps blooming until the frost cuts it off.

The eighth, and it is a good property applied to any plant, no matter what, a fine perfume. It carries through as a favourite many a plant that would be altogether rejected but for its odour. What claim, for instance, would the Mignonette have? It has neither colour nor form to recommend it; but as a perfumed plant it stands first. The sweet pea is devoid of bright colour. The purple, the blue, the pink, and the brown, that may be found in its different varieties, are all dull alike, there is not a bright colour to be found among them.

We would mention many other points that are desirable in Annuals, but some day we may take the principal favourites singly, and say what should be tried for in each of them. At present we only recommend those who save seed from Annuals, to bear the leading points in mind, taking away as soon as they are seen all those which are the farthest from the qualities we have pointed out; discarding those with narrow,

90 THE PROPERTIES OF FLOWERS AND PLANTS.

thin, notched, and ragged petals, marking those with broad, thick, smooth ones, because the re-› jection of the worst will improve all the seed. By the marking of the best, that the seed may be saved separately, the general crop may be sold, and the marked ones kept for your own service. This operation repeated a few years, would greatly improve any subject. So, also, when colour is an object, the brightest may be marked, and the seed saved, it will repay any one for his trouble.

THE END.