THE FLORIST. 



and Garden Miscellany all we desire it to be, since, for 

 every number that has appeared there has been an increased 

 demand. As we have no wish to allude to such a subject 

 again, we may as well answer an objection or two. One is, 

 that The Florist is the organ of a party. Truly, it is so ; but 

 of that large party comprising every one that will contribute 

 to its pages in a proper tone and spirit. Another objection 

 is, that the censors of flowers which are sent for opinion are 

 men in the trade, and not disinterested judges. We assure 

 our readers, that no flowers are ever submitted to any but per- 

 fectly disinterested parties. That the decisions are often con- 

 trary to the raiser's opinion must not be considered surprising. 

 To compare lesser things with greater, where is the tribunal 

 from which issue verdicts favourable to all clients ? These 

 objections disposed of, we will say a word about advertise- 

 ments. The charge for them has had the closest considera- 

 tion, and the present scale cannot be altered to that of a news- 

 paper. It is needless to go into particulars, because every 

 reasoning mind will see at a glance that it would assuredly be 

 done if possible, were it only for the interests of the work. But, 

 since horticulturists, as a "body, do not use the advertiser on 

 our terms as much as we hoped, and other parties will do so, 

 we are absolutely compelled to accept advertisements having 

 no relation to floriculture, for we cannot print one page, or 

 two, it must be at least four. We shall, however, carefully 

 avoid every thing of an offensive character, and endeavour to 

 arrange them systematically. 



Lovers of flowers and gardens, come one, come all ; take a 

 part in our labour, and we promise that you shall partake of 

 the reward. Let us have a work that, as our organ, shall 

 speak better things than acrimony, jealousy, and selfishness, — 

 that shall proclaim the existence amongst us of that spirit of 

 charity so beautifully described in Holy Writ : " Charity en- 

 vieth not ; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth 

 not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily 

 provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but 

 rejoiceth in the truth."* We wish this spirit to pervade our 

 periodical; and earnestly invoking the aid we require, we 

 enter upon the second year of our labours with no proprietary 

 to hamper us, our motto being, " Open to all, fettered by 

 none." 



• 1 Cor. xiii. 4-6. 



