300 THE FLORIST. 



small pieces of charcoal. I sowed my seed in a pan, and placed it 

 in my greenhouse ; this was in January 1847. Many seeds vege- 

 tated in June, which after a time were planted in an open border ; 

 but in consequence of some neglect in my absence from home, they 

 were suffered to perish. Again I collected seed, which I sowed in 

 January 1849, and it vegetated in July. This altered my opinion, 

 and gave me fresh vigour ; I sowed this time in November, and have 

 now (April 3d, 1850) potted oif many seedlings, and others are daily 

 making their appearance, w^hilst those of last year are healthy plants 

 breaking strongly. 



I made my principal sowing this year on January 20th, in a cold 

 frame, also some for experiment in the border a week ago ; the result 

 of both I will carefully report to you. In the mean time, I may as 

 well state that my seed has been saved mostly from Perpetuals and 

 their hybrids. 



November \'2th. 



A PARTING LINE FOR THE PRESENT SERIES. 



Sir, — As this is the last time I shall have the privilege of addressing 

 you, — and w^e have the authority of Dr. Johnson for saying, that 

 we never do any thing for the last time without a feeling of regret, 

 — it is at least a satisfaction to me that my object in doing so is 

 to congratulate you on the successful termination of your labours. 

 With this Number, it seems, you conclude the series of the Florist 

 and Garden Miscellany. And I, for one, am free to admit, that I so 

 far justify the above maxim, as to look back with a peculiar feeling 

 of interest on the work now ended ; while I rejoice that you only lay 

 down your office wdth the one hand, in order to take it up with the 

 other, endowed -with an enlarged and more comprehensive juris- 

 diction. 



In adding the word " Fruitist" to your title, you may expect to 

 engage to your interests a large and influential class of readers ; for 

 such is now the advance made in intellectual cultivation, that even 

 epicures I believe can, and sometimes do, read books. May they be 

 led to take up yours for the amusement of an hour before dinner ! — 

 for they will find it, and something better with it. 



But it is no imputation of sensuality upon any man that he takes 

 a pleasure in the fruits of his garden any more than in its flowers. 

 Both are objects for the gratification of the senses, and equally so. 

 And the Creator has made them what they are for the purpose, not 

 to be despised, but to be duly used. And it would be a childish 

 aflfectation, unworthy of the manly character maintained by the 

 Florist from its commencement, to admit of praise to be bestowed 

 on the one at the expense of the other ; for both are well worth any 

 one's attention who has the means of bestowing it. And I think the 

 admission of Jupiter in the classic fable had more of sense in it than 

 was usual with that personage, when, the other deities having fixed 



