22 THE FLORIST. 



TRIFLES TO BE REMEMBERED. 



Now is the time for the amateur, particularly if he is an exhibitor, 

 to look around him and see what is required; which will be, in fact, a 

 general taking of stock. 



The Carnation grower will find propngating-glasses that require 

 painting and repairing, stakes painting and pointing, pins straight- 

 ened, cards cut, and exhibition-boxes painted and varnished. These 

 things are never done so well if deferred until they are wanted, 

 when probably a hinge Avill be found broken, and some of the tubes 

 leaking. 



Shades, such as are used for Pinks, Pansies, and Dahlias, should 

 be painted white. Flower-sticks, particularly the small willows used 

 by the Geranium grower, should be trimmed and tied into straight 

 bundles, and placed in a dry part of the shed near the stoke-hole. 

 Some place them on the flue of the greenhouse ; numbers of these are 

 required in May and June, besides those required from time to time 

 in tying the plants out when growing. There is no time for this 

 when the day arrives for preparing your plants for the show. They 

 are also straightened and made lighter by getting them ready now as 

 described. 



Old wooden labels should be faced and painted. If new ones are 

 required in large numbers, they can be purchased cheaper than they 

 can be made of Mr. Richard Hill, 51 Richmond Street, Edgeware 

 Road, London, who supplies them of various sizes. 



Old pots should be washed, particularly those for blooming Car- 

 nations and Picotees in. Glass, whether pits, frames, or houses, 

 should be kept clean. 



Blinds or shades should be examined, and set in order ; mending 

 those that are worth it, making new ones where required. Hall's 

 garden-netting, manufactured at Manchester, will be found an ex- 

 cellent temporary shading. There are several qualities of this ex- 

 cellent material ; it is light, yet durable. 



Another trifle, not to be forgotten to insure success, is, look over 

 the stock of plants, and see what is deficient; disappointment often 

 follows delay, as some varieties are soon disposed of. The exhibitor 

 should have a stock of two things — choice plants to be successful, 

 and good temper to be available in case he is beaten. 



An Old Hand. 



DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF HARDY CONIFERS. 



NO. I. ARAUCARIA DEBRICATA. TEE CHILI PINE. 



Agreeably with the promise made in our last Number to describe 

 and illustrate some of the more popular and interesting kinds of 

 hardy coniferous plants, we now present our readers with a wood- 

 engraving of Araucaria imbricata, which, through the kindness of 

 Mr, Frost of Dropmore, our artist has been enabled to take, for our 



