300 THE FLORIST. 



If you are anxious to propagate them, it may be effected by 

 means of the scales of the bulbs. Fill a pan with soil similar to 

 that recommended for growing them in ; lay the scales upon the 

 surface, and sprinkle a little fine soil over them ; give a little water, 

 and place the pan in a close warm atmosphere. This is, however, 

 a part of the business which had better be left to professional hands, 

 and, except the amateur be proficient in such work, he will not be 

 very successful. If properly managed, they will soon increase by 

 natural means to more than can be accommodated. 



I may just state, by way of conclusion, that, in my opinion, these 

 fine Lilies have one fault, — they produce their flowers too far from 

 the surface of the soil. I have tried to remedy this by placing three 

 smaller bulbs in a pot with the principal one at the first potting, 

 and I think this improves their appearance when in flower. With 

 this exception, they are splendid productions, and deserve the most 

 extensive cultivation ; grown in masses in large pots, or in conser- 

 vatory borders, they are surpassingly grand, and they are quite 

 within the means of the amateur. Don't be satisfied with your 

 treatment unless your full-grown bulbs produce from twenty-five 

 to thirty flowers upon a single stem. 



Bristol, loth Oct. 1849. Autumnalis. 



To the Superintendent of the Florist. 



Sir, — I am glad complaints have reached you on the Pelargonium 

 not occupying a greater space in your pages. Not that I think the 

 complaint well-founded, — for we have about two dozen strictly florists' 

 flowers, and the same number of honorary members of the fraternity, 

 all of which must receive their due share of notice, — but partly as an 

 evidence that the interest in that one is not on the decline, partly 

 to convince you that, while you are too anxious not to incur a re- 

 proach, we are losing a part of our anticipated pleasure. I have 

 myself, for a quiet and retired person, some means of forming a 

 judgment on the public taste in that matter, and in the circle of 

 my knowledge the proportion is about this, that for one who has 

 withdrawn his fancy from the Geranium tribe, five have risen up in 

 his place. And reasonably too, if you consider the matter ; for no 

 house-plant offers nearly so many advantages to the generality of 

 cultivators as that does. It is all very well for Mr. Dobson's friends, 

 the " arm-chair writers," to take it for granted that every body has 

 a greenhouse, and to call the Cineraria, or the Epacris, or others, 

 " the most useful flower we have ;" but every body who loves 

 flowers, and reads The Florist, does not possess a greenhouse ; and 

 w r e of the latter class are a people too numerous to be despised. If 

 it were not for us the stock-in-trade of professional florists would 

 sadly hang on hand. Where does all that stock find its market ? 

 Does one Geranium in ten, — I had almost asked, Does one in a hun- 



