298 THE FLORIST. 



AUTUMN FLOWERS, ETC. 



Who shall despise the labours of the Florist ? I ask the question as 

 I sit with a large bouquet of flowers before me, consisting of a va- 

 riety of Ferns for a background, Roses, Antirrhinums, Pentstemons, 

 Fuchsias, Verbenas, Scarlet Geraniums, Primulas, and Pelargoniums, 

 not one of which but ow-es its charm to that indefatigable race who 

 are ever trying to produce greater beauties from the sources which 

 Nature has prepared to their hand. Surely it is cause for congra- 

 tulation that so many of all classes are found seeking their pleasure 

 in so useful and pleasing an employment. For my own part, I can- 

 not describe the peace and tranquillity brought over my mind when, 

 w^earied with the toil of business, and sick of the feverish struggle 

 entailed upon me by the present competition in trade, I enter my 

 garden or greenhouse, and hold converse with my favourites. I 

 know that these simple pleasures are enhanced by previous labour, 

 and I feel it a privilege to have that constant necessity for daily em- 

 ployment w^hich is rew^arded by consequent relaxation and repose ; 

 'tis the too much of it of the present day that causes me to regret. 



However, to my flowers. Is any one able and willing to give 

 through your periodical next year a list of the most gay and hardy 

 flo^ver-producing plants suitable for bouquets ? How charitable it 

 would be, if some of those who have large means and establishments 

 would, either directly or by their gardeners, supply us through your 

 pages with information adapted to cottage readers like myself! I 

 have derived much information and pleasure from Mr. Whiting's 

 communications, Mr. Rivers' s papers have always been welcome, 

 Mr. Edw^ards's lists most valuable, and so, indeed, has been every 

 Number of the Florist and Garden Miscellany ; and I tender my 

 sincere thanks to each individual contributor. 



I am promising myself much pleasure in a reperusal of the 

 volume during the long winter evenings which are now commencing 

 in earnest ; and I will endeavour to provide a mite of information to 

 such of your readers as are, like myself, possessors of small gardens 

 with a little greenhouse, to which they attend themselves, with oc- 

 casional help from a labouring man — not your jobbing gardener, an 

 impracticable race that I can do nothing with. I am afraid even 

 " Gregory of the Packet of Seeds" and I should have fallen out ; for, 

 "make a spoon or spoil a horn," I will have my own way. I like 

 to give responsibility to able servants, and nothing is more to be 

 valued than the faithful exertions of such ; but my one hobby, my 

 garden and flowers, will not carry double, and I never had a jobbing 

 gardener that did not want to get in the saddle himself, and put you 

 on the pillion. J. M. C. 



