248 THE GARDENER. [June 



St James's, if we be not ignorant of such a thing being already in existence. 

 [Aristocratic noses turn up contemptuously at such a thought ; besides, the pro- 

 vision of a site would be the great difficulty : after all, is a market in this locality 

 really required ? — Eds.] Returning to Covent Garden, nowhere have we seen 

 bouquets better made than here. A favourite style at present is a white Camellia 

 for a centre (premising that all flowers are first fixed if necessary on artificial stalks 

 with fine wire, sheaves of which, cut in lengths, lie beside the operator), then a 

 ring of Roses, alternated with bunches of blue Nemophila, or Gentian for blue, 

 fragile though the flowers be ; Cinerarias are also used for blue ; then come Pel- 

 argoniums, either scarlet or show varieties, such as the old forcing kinds — 

 Gauntlet and Boule de Len, alternated with Stephanotis or Deutzia ; here and 

 there moss Rosebuds, Heaths, Lily of the Valley, or Epacris, are sticking above 

 the surface of the bouquet, Adiantum cuneatum being a favourite for green. Den- 

 drobium nobile is also at present in use for bouquets, and will remain so for a 

 month. Quantities of the common Northern Hard-Fern, Blechnum boreale, are 

 largely used to fringe the commoner bouquets ; from whence it comes we do not 

 know, perhaps from a heath or moor not far away, or it may be grown on pur- 

 pose. The chief feature remarkable about most bouquets is a system of order in 

 their arrangement suggesting how much beauty depends on form and symmetry, 

 and how much natural grace is compatible with strict formality. Practically, 

 when the operator knows exactly beforehand how he is to arrange his materials, 

 he can turn those materials to the best account without waste. 



Cyclamens are in splendid force ; Hyemalis, Gracilis, and Ventricosa Heaths, the 

 latter exquisite for furnishing. Spirea (Hoteia) Japonica, of all plants for forcing, 

 this is one of the best ; its profuse white spikes of flower, rising above its fine Fern- 

 like foliage, make it an elegant plant for furnishing either drawing-room or con- 

 servatory. Standard Roses, 2 to 3 feet high, two years from the bud, with fine 

 healthy foliage and half-a-dozen open flowers, in 6-inch pots ; dwarf Roses ditto, 

 John Hopper being a favourite, and Gloire de Dijon also. Hydrangeas, with mon- 

 strous single heads, in 5-inch pots, are very early. Mignonette short and stubby, 

 in 5-inch pots, six to eight plants in a pot ; Double Tournesol Tulips ; white 

 Queen-of-EDgland-looking Fuchsias, masses of bloom, in 6-inch pots ; Hyacinths 

 of every hue ; Lily of the Valley, Pinks, Carnations, Cactuses, Calla iEthiopica, 

 Dielytra, &c. ; Neapolitan Violets in flower in 4-inch pots, at Is. 6d. per pot, 

 ought to bring more of that saleable plant into the market. Much more could 

 be said of what may be seen and learned in Covent Garden. I fear lest what is 

 already said be trite to many. Hosts of hardy herbaceous plants may be seen, 

 some with droll nondescript names attached ; Ivy in pots, for training about win- 

 dows, down dark alleys, where nothing else will grow ; the commonest Ferns and 

 weeds by the wayside may be bought; Groundsel in barrow -loads for bird 

 food. 



While we were making some purchases at a leading stall, a person came forward 

 asking for Nettles to buy, but could not be supplied with green, but could get 

 dried. Another purchaser wanted the deadly Nightshade, and wished to know 

 from which part of the plant the tincture was extracted : was informed, from any 

 part. He looked like a paterfamilias, in high-polished boots. Did the villain 

 want to experiment on his own family ? The Squire's Gardener. 



