1869.] SPRING FLOWERS FOR FERNERIES. 81 



Alocasia intermedia might be briefly and accurately described as a remark- 

 ably vigorous, free-growing, and more abundantly foliiferous representative of 

 the very striking ivory-ribbed A. Veitchii, and as such it is certain to become 

 a favourite amongst cultivators. M. 



SPRING FLOWERS FOR FERNERIES. 



'PKING- Flowers are welcome everywhere. It is difficult to name them 

 without getting into what has been sneeringly called the gushing style ; 

 nor is this to be wondered at, for each of them is not only a gem of beauty 

 in itself, but a joy in the memory for evermore. These flowers also come 

 upon us with all the charming force derived from striking contrast. We are 

 literally or figuratively frozen up in the hardness of physical death or mental 

 torpor, and suddenly the spring flowers touch us with the quickening breath of 

 a new life. We are mellowed and thawed at their approach, and thenceforth 

 leap up to chant their praise, and descant upon their charms. And yet who 

 has ever exhausted the sweetness of the violet, or the purity of the snowdrop, or 

 awarded praise which transcends the satisfying fullness of the originals ? 



Amongst my readers I anticipate a great diversity of opinion upon the best 

 means of enjoying to the full our spring garland of flowers. Some prefer con- 

 verting it into a winter one. Their mania is forcing. Everything that will endure 

 it, is forced out of season. Their taste for abnormal growths is so inveterate that 

 summer beauty must be had in spring, autumn in summer, winter in autumn, and, 

 of course, spring in winter. Well, we can only wonder at the whimsicalities of taste 

 and fashion. He, however, '-has made everything beautiful in its time," and 

 therefore I believe the best time to enjoy spring flowers is the spring. Still those 

 may readily be forgiven, who seek to have spring in winter, and spring again in 

 spring-time — two springs in one year ! Fortunately they will not be alike. The 

 setting of the flowers and their surroundings will be different. Spring flowers 

 in pots, or grouped indoors, are not the real spring flowers of our English season ; 

 and much of our enjoyment of spring flowers depends upon their surroundings. 

 A common daisy in a pot, for instance, is nothing ; on the green-cushioned lawn, 

 it is alive with poetry and beauty. So it is to a great extent with most spring 

 flowers. Fully one-half of their effectiveness and beauty depends upon their 

 setting. 



Spring Flowers, too, supply the link between garden and wild flowers, many 

 of them seeming to hover upon the doubtfid border-land between the two. 

 Therefore, they seem most at home in an intemiediate state, such as is provided 

 by the well-disposed fernery, a spot where Art may achieve her highest triumph, 

 by losing herself beneath the ampler folds of Nature's drapery. In such positions, 

 disposed in bold patches, spring flowers are irresistible. With the green or even 

 brown fronds of the ferns as a background, they stand forth in all their richness 

 and purity. It is positively charming to see the Christmas rose breaking the 



