252 THE FLORIST. 



" Oh, what a beauty ! oh, get me that sweet flower !" the original ex- 

 ponent of it ? And with the aid of town-gardens and parlour-window 

 flowers, may it not be nurtured into life, and breadth, and excellence, 

 instead, as it would without them, of becoming blunted, deadened, and 

 decayed ? Ts it for amusement only that the lonely widow in her one 

 small room tends with never-flagging hand the single flower that 

 cheers her lonesome toil ? Or is it not because she gathers from it 

 some remembrance of sweet associations long gone by perhaps, and 

 sees in its present beauty a reflection of the past, a brightness in the 

 future ? Does the little orphan, with her tiny hands, plant flowers on 

 her mother's grave for pastime only, too ? Or does she not, in her 

 innocence and innate love of beauty, wish still to associate the fond- 

 est image of her mind with that which she considers fittest as the 

 emblem of her holy love ? and while they bloom and flower upon the 

 turf, there is still a link which binds their souls together, — a little 

 flower of earth bears her young heart high up to holy thoughts of 

 heaven and her mother. No ; amusement is one thing, but follow- 

 ing an ennobling pursuit for the pleasure it affords, the instruction 

 it gives, the soothing influences it induces to the best aspirations of 

 the mind, is somewhat different, I most humbly beg leave to think, 

 and more, enjoy the thought ; and if any of your readers should find 

 fault with this, then they will please to accept the apologies for this 

 intrusion on their patience by 



Kingsland. J. St. Clement. 



NATIONAL FLORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Oct. G///.— This meeting may be said to have virtually closed the present 

 season's proceedings; for a few Chrysanthen ums are all that can now possibly 

 be expected. The very unpropitious weather for out-door flowers has not, ap- 

 parently, checked the supply of subjects for adjudication, or the interest of those 

 connected with floriculture ; for during the whole season the meetings have 

 been exceedingly well attended. It is but justice to acknowledge the good which 

 this society has effected, through the exertion of its officers, and the impartial 

 yet onerous duties of its censors. On the present occasion a first-class certificate 

 was awarded to Dahlia, King of Yellows (Collier), a medium-sized flower of 

 good outline and petals, which are well defined and smooth, colour bright yel- 

 low. Certificate of merit to Verbena, Mrs. D. Tysson (Robinson), blush, with 

 a bold, decided crimson eye, and good habit. Ditto to Fuchsia, Dominiana 

 (Veitch), a hybrid between F. spectabilis and serratifolia ; it was well covered 

 with large crimson -scarlet Spectabilis-like flowers, which were set off to much 

 advantage by an ample glossy foliage. It is certainly the best of all the Peru- 

 vian race of Fuchsias. Label of commendation to Dahlia, Mount Alexander 

 (Skynner), a rich deep yellow of good outline, but ribbed in the petal and rather 

 low'in the centre. Ditto to Fuchsia, Telegraph (Smith), a useful kind, with 

 crimson- scarlet tube and sepals, and purple corolla. Dahlia, Guido (Skynner), 

 was shown, and would probably have obtained an award had more than two 

 blooms been produced. It is a rosy salmon, of apparently good general 

 qualities. 



