THE 



c;-»:c ::■: :-ot- ;■■"--• c 





Mabch, 1860. 



&J PEING will always be a hopeful season, in spite 

 ^) of the storms, the frosts, the biting winds, and 

 many atmospheric changes with which, in 

 this country, it is annually ushered in. To 

 the world at large it is the advent of ver- 

 dure, and colour, and song ; for the greening 

 meadows, the opening flowers, and the mer- 

 riment of a million birds awaken the eye and 

 the heart to the perception and appreciation 

 of natural beauties; but, to the gardener, it 

 is a season of severe preparation, the losses 

 sustained during winter have to be made good, new plans and processes 

 are to be put to the patient test of practice ; and after so severe a season as 

 we have now nearly got through, there is a more than usually heavy 

 amount of arrears to be made up. The excitement of preparations at 

 home is in no way lessened by a reflection on what is going on abroad. 



"What shows are we to have this summer? What new bedding 

 plants are to be taken into the system of decoration? What novelties are 

 to be received " for better, for worse ?" What new annuals are to be 

 trusted to the beds and borders ? What, among the many of the best old 

 flowers, are to be thrust aside, as superseded, or retained as still in- 

 valuable ? 



One thing is certain, that novelty and excellence do not always come 

 together. Of the thousands of novelties offered us every year, but a very 

 small per centage remain to enjoy a permanent place in the lists, and a 

 still smaller per centage achieve the distinction of becoming famous 

 Nevertheless, every year adds to the resources of the horticulturist ; every 

 year accomplishes some improvement for the flower-garden, the kitchen- 

 garden, the fruit -garden, and the conservatory. From f ime to time a star 

 does arise with peculiar brightness, to shine long and lustrously in the 

 wide firmament of flowers ; and among the number of new candidates tor 

 favour at this moment, a few are certainly destined for distinction. 



VOL. III. — NO. III. D 



