THE FLOEIST. 73 



" abundance of bloom" shall be the first point of excellence in esti- 

 mating the comparative merits of seedlings ; whilst Mr. Beck proposes 

 to substitute " novelty of colours." I venture to differ from both. 

 I agree with Mr. Beck in thinking that no amateur would prefer 

 abundance of bloom to brilliancy of colour : but I go further ; for I 

 venture to think it quite possible to obtain plants which should have 

 too great a profusion of bloom. I admit that I have not yet seen a 

 Pelargonium open to such an objection ; but I have seen some of the 

 " fancy Geraniums" which appeared all flower and no foliage. On 

 looking at plants of this description, such as the Azaleas, for instance, 

 at exhibitions, every one exclaims, " How splendid!" But look at 

 these gorgeous masses of colour six consecutive days, and the eye 

 turns from them positively fatigued and overwrought by the unre- 

 lieved brilliancy. Unquestionably, sufficiency of bloom must form a 

 material point in estimating the relative value of flowers ; but to 

 require profusion, or to estimate it as the first point, is the error of 

 an exhibitor who values the flower only, or principally, as a subject 

 for exhibition. 



And now, having " said my say" as to Mr. Hoyle's view, let me 

 have my difference also with Mr. Beck, who proposes that " novelty 

 of colours" should be the first point. I rather doubt whether, on 

 consideration, Mr. Beck would abide by this view of the case, since 

 it seems sufficiently obvious that a colour may be quite novel without 

 being in any degree attractive. Novelties, as such, may be valuable 

 to the dealer ; but if they have no other recommendation, they are 

 worthless. I should not, however, have doubted that Mr. Beck's 

 novelty was intended to imply beauty also, in which case I might 

 have adopted his view, but for the drawings of those "odious frights" 

 (as I heard a lady call them), " Clown," " Harlequin," and " Singu- 

 larity," at p. 169. They really are enough to give a sensitive florist 

 the nightmare ; and the perpetuating the portraits of such abortions 

 looks so much like what lawyers call " malice aforethought," that I 

 am compelled to think that, in that one particular month in which 

 they made their astounding appearance, Mr. Beck had forgotten 

 that he was, what he really is, a good florist and true, and had 

 dreamed that he was patron-general of some ancient horticultural 

 curiosity-shop ! 



I have myself raised such dyspeptic seedlings, and have forthwith 

 consigned them — totis viribus — with all manner of maledictions, to 

 the deepest depths of my dung-pit. I hereby, however, hold out to 

 Mr. Beck the promise of plenary absolution for his oifence, on condi- 

 tion of his publishing a plate of some of his new and legitimate varie- 

 ties in an early Number by way of penance ; and conclude with good 

 wishes to him, Mr. Hoyle, and all good florists, not forgetting their 

 organ, The Florist. 



Cornwall, Jan. 29. An Amateur. 



vol. II. NO. xv. 



