DECEMBER. 289 



tendency to promote industry, temperance, and thoughtfulness ; and 

 therefore, however numerous may be the exceptions, it has an im- 

 portant bearing on national prosperity and happiness. 



But this conclusion is correct in a more material and commercial 

 sense ; for gardeners are experimentalists and discoverers, the conse- 

 quences of whose skill are made to bear on that extended agriculture 

 on which this country's welfare is so dependent. With some excep- 

 tions, it will be found that improvements in field operations have had 

 their origin in gardens, where, on a small scale, various modes of 

 growth are tested, and their relative value decided upon. Hybri- 

 dising, for example, has been practised very extensively by the Florist, 

 with results most unexpected and extraordinary ; and there can be no 

 doubt that the great crops which are the staff of life are capable of 

 similar development and improvement by the same means. It is 

 sufficient just to glance at this topic, to suggest a variety of probable 

 improvements, which the agricultural interests will in time avail 

 themselves of, having their origin in the labours of the more humble 

 gardener. 



We have now brought our task to a close, and with it has arrived 

 the end of another year. Can the readers of the Florist hesitate to 

 say that the time spent in the service of Flora, or the more laborious 

 cultivation of a general garden, has not been misspent ? We trust 

 that many of the higher influences of these pursuits which we have 

 indicated, have fallen gently like refreshing dew upon the minds of 

 many since the year began ; and that through the new period of time 

 which will soon commence, .our readers will enjoy all the entertain- 

 ment and derive all the instruction which the flowers of the garden 

 and the field are capable of affording. 



Henry Burgess. 



NEW AND FIRST-RATE PELARGONIUMS. 



I AM glad that you have drawn attention to the system of exhibiting 

 the " new and first-rate Pelargoniums ;" and you have certainly made 

 it very plain that none but new and first-rate varieties should on 

 any account be exhibited. Your suggestion of sending plants to 

 Mr. Cock or Mr. Staines for specimen-growing is excellent, and 

 would, if acted upon, be of great assistance to the majority of ama- 

 teur growers ; for, owing to the high prices and the uncertainty of 

 many " notorious flowers," few now think of purchasing until they 

 have been out three seasons, when those sent out at a guinea and a 

 half or two guineas have dropped down to about 25. Qd. or 'is, 6d., 

 and something more than mere hearsay is known about their various 

 pretensions. 



In your remarks you say that Delicatissimum was shewn by you 

 twice : this I find, on a careful examination, to be correct ; but 

 Blanche only ai)pears once, though it may have been staged at the 

 Surrey shows, none of which have' been fully reported this last season. 

 Besides these two, our statements seem to agree pretty well. 



In reply to your request, I must inform you that I have applied 



