266 THE FLORIST. 



in time. The best plants at the first Exhibition last spring 

 were Gulielma, and at the second Rosamond. The most re- 

 markable and attractive perhaps was Colonel of the BufTs. 

 When we get into June, flowers of finer quality are to be seen, 

 such as the beautiful Enchantress and the noble Optimum, and 

 other fine flowers of the same age. 



As regards the first Exhibition for 1854, the following will 

 not be far from our collection, let their position be what it 

 may : Magnet, Magnificent, Mochanna, Rowena, Colonel of 

 the Buffs, Gulielma, Constance, Rosamond, Medora, Pearl, 

 Basilisk, and Ariadne. It will be observed that many of these 

 are still very old kinds ; but they possess one of the greatest 

 points of excellence for exhibition-plants, viz. profuseness of 

 bloom. It will undoubtedly be an improvement, and a great 

 one, when Regalia displaces Basilisk ; Lucy and Duchess of 

 Wellington, Constance and Gulielma; Attraction, Mochanna, 

 and Virginia, Pearl, &c. ; but this we cannot expect to see 

 before another season. 



The improvement in the Pelargonium is going steadily on, 

 some seasons being more prolific in producing finer varieties 

 than others; and we hope to be enabled another season to 

 report that seedlings have met with more encouragement at 

 our great Exhibitions than they have hitherto done. 



THE OLD SUPERINTENDENT 

 TO THE READERS OF THE " FLORIST." 



As I look over the volumes and loose numbers of the Florist now lying 

 before me, it is with unmixed gratification that I measure the pro- 

 gress and value of a work in which I was so long interested. All 

 that was projected in its establishment, and announced in its ori- 

 ginal prospectus, has been faithfully carried out ; and if not to the 

 extent that was, and is still desired, it has been simply because the 

 circulation, though large, has not warranted the additional expense 

 which would have been thereby incurred. I allude more particularly 

 to that staff of paid correspondents in various districts of the country, 

 it was hoped at one time might be established and maintained. It 

 is well for us to remember what was the general character of floral 

 literature when the Florist made its appearance. It was, in a word, 

 discreditable to the pursuit. The principal illustrated monthly ma- 

 gazine consisted in the main of extracts from other publications, and 

 not of original matter. The correspondence of Florists was too much 

 of it personal ; and this was fostered and promoted by a writer, 

 whose talent seemed to lie in that direction alone. It was some 



