THE FLORIST 



Oil one other point I would beg to speak with all candour. 

 Though I know that the subscribers to the work have steadily in- 

 creased as it has become more known, yet I am equally aware that 

 they have not, as yet, reached the required amount which would 

 enable the spirited conductors of the work to accomplish all they 

 design and wish. To this end, I would claim the kind efforts of its 

 present supporters, that they should each act and determine within 

 themselves, to add some new subscriber or subscribers to the list ; 

 and thu3 hasten, or rather secure at once, the highest aim the con- 

 ductors have in view. I suggest this on the ground of duty, not of 

 their self-interest ; though, of course, they only will be rewarded in 

 a larger expenditure of funds on the work itself. As a verification 

 of the old proverb, that " Where there is a will there is a way," and 

 as a seasonable hint, I may state that, in one week, I have added 

 eight new subscribers to the list, by simply shewing them the com- 

 pleted Volume I. ; and to that number added a real pleasure. In 

 truth, every thing is in our own hands ; the book only wants making 

 more known, that the very highest aim of the conductors may be 

 attained. F. R. Horner. 



VERBENAS. 



Various species of Verbena were cultivated in our gardens before 

 the year 1828 ; but, if we are not mistaken, it was about that year 

 that the beautiful V. Melindres, the most striking of the then 

 existing species, was first figured and described. About ten years 

 afterwards, V. Tweedieana was figured and described by Don, to- 

 gether with Erinoides, Lamberti, Rugosa, and others ; and during 

 that space of time a few important additions had been made to the 

 genus. But who shall enumerate the varieties which made their ap- 

 pearance during the next ten years ! Each returning season produced 

 multitudes of fresh candidates for admiration, and now our par- 

 terres glow with Verbenas of almost every shade and colour. Much 

 confusion, however, exists in the genus, owing to the fact, that the 

 same plant has been " let out" under different names. The be- 

 setting sin of seedling raisers (we will not say all, for we know of 

 many exceptions) is, that they name their productions without 

 taking sufficient pains to discover whether or not they have brought 

 forth any thing new. So much has this system prevailed with re- 

 gard to the Verbena, that Mr. Beaton, one of our most intelligent 

 gardeners, stated, in 1843, that, "after seeing all about London, and 

 collecting nearly fifty varieties of Verbena, I reduced them to twelve 

 sorts, and three or four of these are for neutral beds ; that is, beds 

 with no decided colour !" Surely a statement like this, emanating 

 from so accurate an observer as Mr. Beaton, should lead florists to 

 compare their seedlings with those already " out," as far as they have 

 opportunity, before they name them. 



