I885.J 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



57 



were looked upon as something superb, when but 

 slightly larger than a ripe white grape currant. 

 Since then, they seem to have been gradually in- 

 creasing in size, and with improved form and more 

 brilliant colors, from the semblance of little fairy 

 pockets — to those of watch fobs for giants. Insig- 

 nificant as they might appear now, they were 

 nevertheless much admired when they had noth- 

 ing better of their kind ; and then, they grew freely, 

 and flowered profusely. 



And there are visions not yet effaced from mem- 

 ory of many an antiquated greenhouse, like the 

 one alluded to, in which used to grow Cinerarias, 

 and Petunias, more remarkable for the lack of that 

 which constitutes floral excellence, according to 

 our advanced ideas of floriculture, than for any- 

 thing else. And yet, the good folk who grew 

 them considered them elegant and useful green- 

 house plants ; and no doubt felt just as proud of 

 them as we at present do of the more splendid va- 

 rieties which have succeeded them. 



Of the first named, the poorest kind of star wort 

 found growing in neglected fence corners, or strug- 

 gling for existence along the dusty country road- 

 sides, was on a par with most kinds of them, in 

 times gone by. But what of that ; they were the 

 best they had, and were prized accordingly. And 

 of Petunias, which were formerly regarded as choice 

 and lovely pot plants, very useful for the beautiful 

 show they made in the greenhouse during the winter 

 season ; the writer remembers when but five or six 

 varieties were all the kinds in cultivation. Were it 

 possible for the present enthusiastic admirers of 

 pretty flowers to get a glimpse of them at this 

 day, they would be apt to dub them " a shabby 

 lot." And yet, notwithstanding their want of 

 comeliness — as we judge them now — and as it was 

 with the other two mentioned, having no superiors 

 — as each novelty appeared, however poor it might 

 be, it was gladly accepted as something different, 

 if not an improvement, upon its predecessor. And 

 thus, with these acknowledged merits it obtained 

 public favor, and while remaining without a rival, 

 it had the distinguished advantage of being one of 

 the newest, if not the nicest things ever sent out. 



They, the amateurs and professionals of that 

 time, good souls ! many of whom have not yet 

 gone to " the land o' the leal," could hardly have 

 believed it, though a prophet had predicted the 

 coming of better things, especially among Petu- 

 nias, that they would live to realize such extraordi- 

 nary improvements, as have come to pass in these 

 latter days among the flowers. They could not 

 possibly have had any conception of the size and 



brilliant coloring, which renders them so conspicu- 

 ous in the greenhouse or garden. And flowers 

 variegated, rayed, blotched, penciled, mottled, 

 fringed, or striped, were then unknown. Neither 

 had the fine double rose, or camellia kinds, then 

 made their appearance : they were reserved for us 

 to admire later on. And with the greatest variety 

 of single, double,and semi-double kinds imaginable, 

 some of which are fragrant, almost every garden 

 in summer is gay with them throughout the land. 

 The few exceptions there may be to so commend- 

 able a practice, are much to be regretted ; as there 

 cannot be any sunshine in the heart that exhibits 

 no love for flowers. 



Watching the progress of horticulture, as the 

 writer has for many years, and ever alert to ob- 

 serve improvements in floriculture, at the same 

 time, he was, notwithstanding his expectations to 

 see " something good," be itsaid, much surprised at 

 the sight of the remarkable development of one of 

 David Fergusson & Sons' seedling single blotched 

 Petunias, during the past summei, which measured 

 a little over four inches across the flower. And 

 when I inform the younger followers of the most 

 ancient of all earthly occupations, that he who 

 thus writes the chronicles of gardening, as it was, 

 in his youthful days, has a clear recollection of 

 the popular first-class kinds, with their dingy- 

 white, flabby little flowers, of less than an inch in 

 diameter, much more like small Nierembergias, 

 than modern Petunias, the reason will be obvious 

 why he should place upon record such a marvel 

 of evolution. Mount Holly, N. y. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



Making Known the Gardeners' Monthly. 

 — It may do no harm to remind the many friends 

 of the Gardeners' Monthly, that it is issued at 

 the low subscription price, chiefly that the pub- 

 lisher may have a claim on the friends of the 

 Magazine, to do what they can to make it known 

 among those who are interested in its aims. A 

 purely Horticultural Magazine, unlike one de- 

 voted to Agriculture, cannot reach the scattered 

 votaries of the art, by any amount of advertising 

 usual in other businesses. It has to flourish solely 

 on the good will of its friends. 



The Landscape Gardener of Fairmount 

 Park. — Public life is anything but pleasant, from 

 the exposure to malice and the many insidious 

 attacks which it entails. Landscape Gardener 

 Miller, of Fairmount Park, has just been through 



