JANUARY. 



21 



rangemenb of colours ; correct nomenclature ; and strict conformity 



to regulatioi 



Disqualifications : open centres, whereby the disc or anthers may 

 be exposed ; infringement of, or staging contrary to regulations. 



John Edwards. 



NATIONAL FLORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



I have read with peculiar satisfaction the admirable remarks by Mr. 

 William Paul in the last Number of the Florist, detailing the necessity 

 that existed for establishing an ordeal through which seedling Flo- 

 rists' flowers should pass, in order that, to a certain extent, the system 

 of sending out inferior varieties might be checked. So necessary had 

 such an ordeal become, that when the National Floricultural Society 

 was first proposed, the leading Nurserymen and Florists who were 

 consulted on the subject immediately vouchsafed their support ; and 

 no sooner was the Society enrolled and its objects made public, than, 

 as quoted by Mr. Paul, " 205 members, in the brief space of one 

 year, comprising the leading nurserymen, amateurs, and florists, prove 

 not only how much the want was felt, but also a confidence in the 

 early promotion of the scheme." 



It is not my object to follow Mr. Paul on every point through his 

 well-written article, a perusal of which I earnestly recommend to 

 every lover of floriculture and plant-purchaser ; but I am anxious to 

 enlarge on a few of the suggestions which he has thrown out. 



Why not have a " National Floricultural Society's Garden ?" a 

 Floricultural Museum, where every thing new shall be sent and 

 proved ? It may be urged that many would hesitate to send new 

 plants, fearing that they might be distributed otherwise than by legal 

 sales ; but to meet this objection, let honourable men be appointed to 

 the care of the garden and administration of its affairs, and let con- 

 fidence be invited on the part of raisers and sellers of new flowers. 

 Those who reside at a considerable distance from the metropolis have 

 great difficulty in getting their productions exhibited successfully in 

 London ; for it is no easy matter to get a seedling Fuchsia, for in- 

 stance, to a London show, without the flowers sustaining considerable 

 injury ; and it would not only afford the majority of the nurserymen 

 and amateurs an opportunity of seeing each variety in its true cha- 

 racter, but would also be advantageous to the distant grower, who 

 (if the flower possessed merits) would thus have an opportunity of 

 making it well known. Unless a seedling flower can pass through 

 such an ordeal, I think it should not be sent out with high preten- 

 sions. In such a garden let every thing be well grown, and the best 

 varieties of each class selected annually and grown for years after it 

 has been sent out, to enable the public to see the advance floriculture 

 has made in each particular class of flower, and a carefully compiled 

 register kept of every plant as it is issued, noting its merits or de- 

 merits. 



