32 THE FLORIST. 



by which the beef and mutton of the country in general is better 

 than it used to be. The system is part, and parcel, though a small 

 one, of that adaptation of means to requirement, by which the old 

 greenhouse, with its straggling, unsightly stems, with here and there 

 a stray blossom, has given place to a well-ordered collection of 

 healthy and shapely trees, which, each in its turn, become masses of 

 bloom in their season. Iota. 



[The following remarks on this subject are from the pen of our 

 friend Mr. Dodwell of Derby.] 



Allow me to offer one word in defence of the poor Florist, and 

 in vindication of his practice of " dressing flowers " impeached by 

 Philip Havapek, at page 14 of your last issue. 



Your correspondent denounces this as " one of the most pernicious 

 practices connected with floriculture." He tells us, " if he attends 

 an exhibition, he is struck with admiration at the beauty of the Pinks, 

 or the Picotees, or Carnations ; but if he becomes a purchaser, do 

 what he will, they are mere mops." I beg to tell him he is speaking 

 most mistakenly, and wide of the fact. He never has done what he 

 could, or he might have realised beauty equal to that which elicited 

 his admiration. 



The evil he charges against the Florist is simply due to his deter- 

 mined disinclination to give time and trouble to the attainment of 

 those objects, from which, when attained, even he cannot withhold 

 his admiration. Your correspondent might grow and display subjects 

 equal to any thing that has been shewn ; but he never will, so long as 

 he hopes never to have the inclination. First-rate flowers, combining 

 all possible beauties from nature's hands, are indeed desirable ; but I 

 fear they are what your correspondent will never realise on earth ; 

 meantime, why does he object to that beauty which he tells us has 

 excited in him so much admiration ? 



The question lies in a nutshell ; it is simply, Shall art be admitted 

 to assist nature ? If your correspondent negatives this, he will carry 

 us back at once to the instincts of the savage, where most of us 

 would decline to follow him ; if he affirms it, he can shew no reason 

 why art should not be given to the flower, which is not equally ap- 

 plicable to the plant ; a condemnation of the one is a condemnation 

 of the other, and if valid, would apply to the splendour of the dia- 

 mond, and every object of beauty art creates or enhances, and con- 

 demn all to remain in obscurity because their beauty was conferred 

 by the adventitious aid of man. 



This is the rationale of " dressing flowers ;" and the humble Florist 

 as correctly creates a beauty in his flowers, as does the sculptor when 

 he gives to the shapeless stone the ideality of his genius. It may be 

 desirable, in the case of new flowers submitted for opinion, that they 

 be seen with all their faults as well as their perfections. This may 

 be easily enforced — my remarks apply to the art of dressing, and I 

 am sure, so long as art is known, there will be a propriety in its 

 adoption. E. S. D. 



