AUGUST. 233 



was the case with the whole contents of the house. In their large 

 house are planted all the known varieties of Hamburgh Vines. These, 

 it is expected, will not only furnish a supply of Grapes, but also a 

 quantity of " eyes," from which a stock of young plants can be propa- 

 gated and kept under their proper names. The stock of young trees 

 in pots in this house is in excellent condition. Out of doors, there are 

 large quantities of Pears, Plums, Gooseberries, and Currants, also in 

 pots, and many of them loaded with fruit. 



Messrs. Lane have long been known as among the most persevering 

 and ardent lovers of good gardening, at the present time there is every 

 appearance of their long retaining their high standard ; everything, 

 both in their plant-houses and grounds, evinces the best order and good 

 management, and we have to thank them for the very kind manner in 

 which they allowed us to inspect every part of their establishment. 



THE PINK. 

 Knowing as we do the estimation in which this sweetest, as well 

 as oldest and most interesting of Florists' Flowers is held, we have, 

 by permission of the proprietor, introduced the following remarks by 

 " J. H. B.," from the " National Garden Almanack " for the present 

 year. As we know the discriminating taste of" J. H. B.," he will be found 

 a safe guide, and we hope in a future number to give our readers the 

 result of his experience of the present year's bloom. 



" If we examine the whole catalogue of Florists' Flowers, I question 

 if we shall find one more improved of late years than this lovely 

 favorite. 



" When we remember the fringed mop of Dry's Earl of Uxbridge, 

 or Pigott's Earl of Cheltenham ; the confused colouring of Unsvvorth's 

 Omega, or Blackheath Hero ; and the uncertain lacing of Akers' Lord 

 Brougham, or Barrett's Conqueror, all acknowledged favourites a few 

 years since, and contrast them with the fulness and compactness of 

 Ward's Great Britain, or Turner's Duke of Devonshire, the solid 

 edging and lovely colours of Mrs. Norman or Maclean's Criterion, or 

 the dense margin of Norman's Colchester Cardinal, we cannot fail to 

 be struck with the great advance made by this flower, and although we 

 must allow perfection has not been attained, yet we cannot certainly 

 deny that immense strides have been made in that direction. 



" Among the first (in my remembrance) improvers of this flower, 

 Mr. John Sharp, of Clop Hill, near Selsoe, Bedfordshire, must be 

 named, as with Splendid and Wm. Cobbett ; he gave us the first 

 indication of that breadth and smoothness of petal, we have since seen 

 so much more fully carried out ; Mr. Garrett gave us a still further 

 improvement with Alpha, and Queen of Roses ; Mr. Hodges gave us 

 Gem and Melona, and Mr. Creed, of Woolwich, gave us President, a 

 further advance in the right direction. 



" Mr. Cousins, of Welling, with Little Wonder, and James Cousins 

 followed well in this road, and Mr. N. Norman, of Woolwich, in con- 



