8 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
gaslight, especially Ardisia crenulata, Rivinia levis, Wetherill’s 
Hybrid Solanums, Crategus pyracantha, Aucuba Japonica femina Vera 
(true, green leaf,) and the scarlet and yellow-berried Hollies. 
Se skis 
“THE AMATEUR GARDENER’S BEST FRIEND.” 
44 Y the foregoing flattering phrase the Froran Worup has 
been described by a friendly critic. As we have never 
met with an unfriendly critic, we can at least imagine 
that the phrase will be generally adopted and become 
current, to which, of course, we shall have no objec- 
tion, for we believe it expresses the simple truth. As to the critics, 
they are either careful to ignore our faults, or keenly sensitive to 
our virtues, for, amongst the very many critical observations we 
have been favoured with by the press all have been laudatory, and 
never a word of condemnation has been uttered. Have we not 
reason to be thankful? Wehave, andweare. Perhaps reason to be 
proudalso? Yes, proud also; not, indeed, of our doings, but of the 
good feeling, the fine generosity, which has brought troops of friends 
from all quarters to our aid to render the FnLorasn Worup “the 
Amateur Gardener’s Best Friend.” 
Considering that there are now four weekly and four monthly 
publications devoted to horticulture, it is satisfactory to be enabled 
to say that the severe competition appears to be beneficial rather 
than baneful to our humble undertaking. We go on quietly, and 
leave others to make a noise, for experience has taught us that fuss 
is a tax on the energies, and while one is engaged in declaring one’s 
peculiar merits, one loses time and strength that might be devoted 
to proving one’s remarkable excellence. So, in hope of some day 
accomplishing the proof in our own behalf, we go on quietly, as 
already remarked, but we want all the help our friends can quietly 
afford us, by recommending the Froran Wok tp to all such ag it is 
likely to interest, and by sending us notes of their various horticul- 
tural experiences. We have always been very much favoured in these 
ways, and hope to continue to enjoy sufficient confidence to insure 
help and sympathy again and again. 
_ The Frorat Wor.p has now entered on the Eighteenth Year of 
its existence. When it comes of age in three years’ time, we shall} 
invite all our readers to a festival, for which we shall now 
begin to make preparations, for really, you know, it is not often one 
meets with a periodical so old in years and yet so young in spirit, 
love, virtue, truth, and usefulness as this is. But perhaps we had 
better say no more, for fear the shallower ones who hear of our exul- 
tations may declare that they begin and end in egotism. ‘There is 
no egotism here, depend upon it. We have got into our eighteenth 
year, and that’s a fact. We shall assert our modesty by saying no 
more, except that, with all the heartiness possible, and in that spirit 
of friendship that grows by long relationship of parties who have 
never seen one another, we wish all our readers 
S Happy Hew Pear, 
