224 



THE FLORIST. 



if it prove equally good on our soil, we can then replace our other 

 Roses with it." My master seemed to think this course reasonable, 

 and adopted it ; and that he was well pleased with his decision the 

 sequel will sufficiently shew. 



This has led me to a rather long digression. To return. My 

 September flowers had fallen, and I learnt it was the intention to 

 " force me" — that is, to change my seasons, so as to develop my first 

 blossoms in March instead of June. To this end the pot in which I 

 grew was laid on its side, so that I might get no water naturally or 



artificially, but sink rapidly 

 into a state of rest. This 

 I did, and was pruned and 

 conveyed to a cold pit, 

 there to wait till the first 

 week of January, which 

 was the commencement of 

 the forcing season. The 

 operation of pruning this 

 year seemed much mere 

 difficult than before; I had 

 a great number of branches, 

 some weak and some 

 strong, some well and some 

 ill placed. It was evident- 

 ly a puzzle even to John 

 what to do for the best; 

 and he walked round me, 

 and looked at me some 

 time before he could make 

 up his mind to begin. At 

 last he seemed to have de- 

 cided which shoots should 

 remain ; and he began re- 

 moving the others carefully one by one till only twelve were left, 

 — one tall shoot in the centre, and the others disposed around it 

 at about equal distances. The shoots were then shortened ; on the 

 strong ones were left about five eyes, and on the weak ones two or 

 three, and I was pronounced pruned ready for forcing. My appear- 

 ance when pruned, at the end of my second year's growth, was 

 something like that represented above. 



William Paul. 



THE BRIGHTON EXHIBITION. 



The horticultural world may very aptly adopt the cricketer's 

 phraseology, "Sussex with Spary against all England;" for truly 

 the Floral and Horticultural Exhibition held in the Pavilion at 

 Brighton, on the 14th and 15th of the past month, may well rank 



