185 THE FLORIST. 



mers, Cenotaphiums, Miltons, Proteus, &c. ; still, the general bloom 

 justifies our preceding remarks ; it was not good. 



Of Mr. Betteridge's we can speak differently ; his general bloom 

 was good, and included the sterling varieties usually found ; for the 

 best of these we refer our readers to our report of the South-London 

 Floricultural Society's May show, where this grower successfully 

 exhibited (see page 174). 



The same may be said of the bloom at Mr. Lawrence's, of Hamp- 

 ton, Middlesex. His winning stand was duly reported in our pages. 

 We hope this grower will excuse our stating, that he grows many- 

 flowers whose room might be better occupied ; as a successful culti- 

 vator and very liberal dealer, we feel the greatest pleasure in stating 

 that, for growth and quality, Mr. L. is not easily equalled, which may 

 also be said of the comforts to be found at his inn, the Red Lion, 

 whether at the blooming or planting season. The latter reminds us 

 of an old caterer for Florists, on whom, in the course of" our ramble," 

 we made a call. We only wish the same care and attention was 

 bestowed on his bed of Tulips as is given to his guests at the Star 

 Nursery and Hotel, Slough, by Mr. W. Bragg. His Tulips must 

 have better attention, for they really deserve it. 



At the Royal Nursery we found the utmost done with the means 

 at command ; the growth was fine, the general bloom good ; yet 

 much remains to be accomplished, and time only can bring about 

 the splendid collection that we have there seen under the canvass of 

 Mr. C. Turner, whose fame as a Florist is so well known to all 

 our readers. His flowers. Duchess of Sutherland, Queen Victoria 

 (Groom), Hamlet (Brown), Polydorus (Tyso), Vivid, Duke of Devon- 

 shire, Polyphemus, and those he exhibited (see p. 175), were very 

 fine. The Chellaston varieties, as grown here, were, by comparison, 

 decidedly bad. 



We visited some other beds ; but when we can say nothing in 

 commendation, we prefer being silent ; and the more particularly so, 

 as much which was to be found fault with was fairly attributable to 

 £in ungenial season. 



REMINISCENCES OF OLD PLANTS. 



KALOSANTHES COCCINEA. 



The rage for horticultural novelties has throwTi many old and de- 

 serving favourites into the background. However trite the old 

 adage may be, that novelty is not necessarily improvement, we do 

 not seem to acknowledge it otherwise than in theory. A modern 

 horticultural enthusiast does not admire a plant for its beauty, or 

 for the associations which cling around it, — the talisman, by-the-by, 

 which must ever elevate the pursuit of gardening beyond a mere 

 mechanical art; — he admires it only for its rarity. With such I can 

 evince no sympathy ; I love a plant for its beauty — 

 " A thing of beauty is a joy for ever." 



