280 THE FLORIST. 



read; it was : " N. 45° ; D. 55° ; Chis., May 8," signifying that the 

 night temperature was to range about 45°, and the day temperature 

 55°, and that we were to be exhibited at Chiswick on the 8th of May. 

 The former was for the guidance of Jacob, who attended to the fires ; 

 the latter for his own, that time might not slip away unnoted. The 

 treatment I henceforth received was almost the same as that of the 

 previous year, only the temperature was some degrees lower. Thus 

 February, March, and the first half of April, passed away, and my 

 flower-buds were just showing colour. I had grown remarkably tall 

 and handsome, and became a flourishing young plant. My next 

 neighbour but one was already in bloom ; but the others were 

 still, like myself, only children of promise. Such of our master's 

 friends as had seen our progress of late (I can no longer speak of my- 

 self as disconnected from my companions) had spread our fame 

 abroad, and it was rumoured that numerous applications would be 

 made to see us. One of John's friends, who had been accustomed 

 to win the gold medal at the exhibition, called about this time, and 

 frankly owned himself beaten, saying good-humouredly that he 

 should try hard to recover his position next year. Notwithstanding 

 the excitement arising as the show-day drew near, John " kept the 

 even tenour of his way," knowing well the prize was not his till won. 

 As the buds prepared to expand, he drew a thin canvas shade over 

 the glass, to break the sun's rays, and syringing was now dispensed 

 with. 



Time passed on, and it wanted but two days to the show, and it 

 was the last day of receiving company, as my master did not admit 

 visitors to the garden the day before the show, because John was 

 too much occupied in getting us ready to pay them proper attention. 

 I have said it was the last day we were to be seen prior to the show, 

 and the company was thronging to and fro from morning till night. 

 Among others, I was not a little delighted to recognise my old friend 

 the miller, who, two years ago, had counselled our destruction in 

 favour of the Manetti. Oh, how often I had wished that he would 

 come and see us now ! He brought his gardener Simon, a young 

 man, with him; and I listened attentively to the conversation that 

 took place, hoping to hear something of my rival. But in vain. John 

 spoke, the miller spoke, and Simon spoke, but not a word fell from 

 any of them concerning the Manetti stock. After examining us 

 individually, my master and the miller quitted the house, while John 

 and Simon were left standing opposite to me. Each looked signifi- 

 cantly at the other for some time without speaking. John, as I 

 afterwards inferred, waiting his opportunity to inquire of Simon the 

 success of the Manetti stock, while Simon was wishing to draw from 

 John the principles of culture by which he had developed such mag- 

 nificent plants. 



Simon at length broke silence, and the following colloquy took 

 place : — 



Simon. Wonderful! I couldn't have believed it; though, to be 

 sure, every body in Pottletown has been talking about 'em for weeks; 

 and Mr. Leek, the nurseryman, said it was a horticultural triumph. 



