132 THE FLORIST. 



In the article quoted from, the name of Mr. Paul is introduced in 

 connection with his recently-published book on suburban gardening ; 

 permit me to state how much I felt myself complimented by that 

 gentleman when, in your p;'.ges, he a short time since enumerated 

 HoUoway as one of the localities in evidence that Roses might be well 

 done about great towns. I am not above acknowledging that the Roses 

 grown by me fully merited such encomiums, and further, that on a very 

 particular occasion, long to be remembered by many, a slight error was 

 corrected after the inspection by a delegated floral M.D., whose avowed 

 declaration was, *' You have better Roses, Carnations, and Picotees now 

 blooming than those you yesterday so successfully exhibited." Need I 

 state that the withheld prizes were duly paid, and the first instigators 

 of the movement silenced by the evidence reluctantly given by their 

 own appointed inspector. 



To conquer the difficulties of town gardening must needs require 

 energy, command of labour, of water, of manure, of renovating maiden 

 soil, and of patience. John Edwards. 



WINTERING FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 



There is little necessity for reminding our readers that the winter of 

 1854 and 1855 has been remarkably severe and prolonged, and such a 

 winter as florists have not encountered for many years. In the course 

 of a recent run through the north of England and Scotland we noticed 

 its terrible influence on Pinks, Pansies, and other florists' flowers 

 wintered out of doors, and in no instance whatever did we see a healthy 

 bed of either flower, but the reverse of this, as all seemed to be, if not 

 totally destroyed, at least greatly injured. It is our purpose now to 

 note the position of our own beds here at Slough, and to offer in all 

 kindness a few remarks on the inefficient means — as we venture to 

 think them — taken by our northern friends for the preservation of their 

 flowers during winter. 



PINKS. 



In the course of the summer we turn the ground up roughly where they 

 are to be planted, and at the time of planting we dig in a good dressing 

 of well- decayed manure. In September well rounded beds four feet 

 wide are prepared, the centre of which should be eight inches above the 

 path. We then plant, each row across the bed being formed in this 

 manner by nine plants placed in a triangular form, — 



Bed No. 1.— Nine Plants of New Criterion. 



Bed No. 2. — Nine Plants of Colchester Cardinal. 

 by which means one stick marked thus * serves for tliree plants, and 



