58 THE FLORIST. 



gardens where plant culture is carried on in the highest state of per- 

 fection ; but, again, there are thousands of places where little or no 

 attention is bestowed, where plants are left to shift for themselves, 

 to bloom as chance may direct, and where they are truly crea- 

 tures of circumstances. In proof of this, a tour of inspection amongst 

 provincial gardens and greenhouses v/ill afford numerous examples of 

 the mismanagement I have alluded to. It arises, in many cases., from 

 careless indifference on the part of those in whose care the plants are 

 placed. In other cases the gardeners are inexperienced, and unequal 

 to the task. I will also add, that at times a want of knowing the 

 culture a new plant should receive may be urged as an excuse. But 

 there are many instances where gardeners ought to seek for the neces- 

 sary information, and try to do better. Such men tend to degrade 

 instead of elevate the profession ; for great facilities are now afforded 

 of obtaining all necessary knowledge respecting the culture of nearly 

 every plant with which we have to deal. 



Observer. 



NATIONAL FLOMCULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The papers of " Mr. William Paul" and " Observer" have no doubt 

 given great satisfaction to every well-wisher of the Society, evincing 

 as they do such warm interest in its success and progress, and testi- 

 fying so pleasingly to its usefulness hitherto. There is no room to 

 fear retrogression so long as such men will freely give the Society 

 their talented and valuable aid ; they can do much to promote its 

 great object ; and, indeed, if Florists will but do their part (their 

 duty) towards the Society, it must succeed in promoting the exten- 

 sion and general good of floriculture. The proposal to deliver lectures 

 or essays is a good one ; they might be made productive of much 

 benefit, and greatly extend the love and practice of floriculture. 



The " codification (?)" of colours, well executed, would be also a 

 very excellent work ; but it will be one, I fear, of great difficulty. 

 What should be the medium on which to portray the various tints ? 

 Whoever has been in the habit of having portraits painted of his 

 favourite flowers well knows how great the difficulty is of matching 

 upon paper nature's colours by those of art. There is, however, one 

 suggestion of Mr. Paul's to which I must beg leave to demur, viz. 

 the proposition to establish a garden, in connexion with this Society, 

 where " all seedlings are to be tested, and also for the purpose of 

 raising seedlings :" to this I cannot assent. I doubt its practically 

 working well or beneficially. I am a raiser of seedlings, and I cer- 

 tainly should hesitate to delegate to others the growing of such as I 

 wish to prove ; for though they might be better done, I should not 

 feel half the pleasure in them that I should if grown by myself; be- 

 sides, it would incur a year's delay. The anticipated advantage of 

 proximity to London would be very little, unless the meetings and 

 judgment should take place in the gardens ; for it is as difficult to 



