xxx iy INTRODUCTION. 



crowned, by having a wreath hung over it. 

 The crown is awarded to the plant that is 

 pronounced the finest production of the Salon, 

 which sometimes depends on its rarity or 

 novelty, and sometimes on the size and 

 splendour of a well-known flower, whose 

 appearance indicates superior culture and 

 treatment. 



These meetings have contributed mate- 

 rially towards the perfection to which the 

 Dutch florists have brought several genera 

 of plants. The bouquets offered for sale at 

 Ghent are both numerous and beautiful, it 

 being a common practice there to carry a 

 flower, not only on the promenade, but also 

 to the church. 



As the world leads we follow. 



Fashion does not at present sanction any 

 but coachmen in wearing nosegays in this 

 country, yet it has not influence sufficient to 

 banish flowers from the garden, since we 

 notice that those who have only a small piece 

 of land attached to their dwellings generally 

 devote it to the service of Flora ; whilst others, 

 who have larger plots, set some portion aside 



