64 THE FLORIST. 



But what's all this to do with flowers or gardening? Wait a bit, 

 and you shall see ; and if young gardeners cannot learn a lesson 

 from what I've noticed, they can't do what I did. That first even- 

 ing I went in, I sat still and out of the way, till I saw the old woman 

 going for some wood to make up the fire for her irons (she and her 

 daughter were ironing), when up I got, and fetched it for her; and 

 after a while, and some supper, I went to bed, — and such a bed! 

 after my hole in the shed, it was like a nobleman's to me. Next 

 morning, when I went to work, I was told by the head-gardener, 

 that the young man above me was gone into the stable, and I was to 

 have his place, and ten shillings a- week, out of which I was to pay 

 one shilling and sixpence a- week to the widow for lodging and wash- 

 ing. This was a fine lift for me in all ways ; for now I was to work 

 in the houses as well as the grounds. Three months only I had in 

 this place before the under-gardener left, and I got his situation. And 

 now I found the use of having amused myself in reading and writ- 

 ing ; for I had for a long time before put down every night what I 

 had seen done or done myself in the day (though it was in a poor 

 way of writing to be sure), and this helped me wonderfully. 

 [To be continued.] 



CARNATION AND PICOTEE SOCIETY. 



1'he frequent commendations which you have bestowed upon my 

 seedlings, and the distinguished place which you have given them 

 among the Illustrations of the Florist, demand my best acknowledg- 

 ments. I would gladly contribute to your pages some new infor- 

 mation upon the culture of the Carnation and Picotee, and point 

 out to your readers by what means they might improve the growth, 

 and multiply the varieties of, in my opinion, the fairest flowers in 

 creation ; but as far as their management is concerned, I have 

 nothing new to impart, nothing that has hitherto escaped the obser- 

 vation of gardeners and amateurs. So much has been said, and 

 well said, in the Florist, on the culture of Picotees and Carnations, 

 that I must be permitted, for the present at least, to take my position 

 rather as a pupil than as an instructor. It is well known that these 

 flowers require extraordinary care, from the time the seed is sown 

 until the bloom is produced ; and I attribute my success rather to 

 great attention devoted to a single flower, than to any peculiarity 

 of treatment of which other cultivators may be ignorant. 



While, however, I am in possession of no secret with which to 

 enlighten your readers, I yet believe it will be doing good service 

 to bring under their notice some account of a society which was 

 formed last season, after the " Grand Trial Exhibition" took place 

 at Slough, solely to promote the growth of the Picotee and Carna- 

 tion. That such a society was needed will not be disputed, when 

 we reflect on the benefits which have been derived from the nume- 

 rous floricultural exhibitions which have taken place throughout 



