FIVE minutes' advice to a young florist. 7 



not to mention now and then receiving a wrong plant by mistake, or 

 perhaps something worse — many of my purchases proved compara- 

 tively worthless, and rather a disgrace to my collection than otherwise. 

 When I have witnessed such things, I have felt so disgusted for the 

 moment, as to be half inclined to give up the cultivation of flowers 

 altogether; but by waiting a few days longer, I have found other 

 parts of my purchase exceed my expectations. This has restored 

 me to good humour again, and after several years of such disappoint- 

 ments and gratifications, I am, if possible, more devoted to the fancy 

 than ever. 



It is not enough that you go to an exhibition to make your pur- 

 chases, for although, if there be a good flower, it is to be found there 

 as a matter of course ; yet it will often happen, that it is the only 

 good bloom that the plant from which it was cut has borne during 

 the season, such is the uncertain character of most florists' flowers. 

 Now, suppose you want to purchase a couple of dozens of first-rate 

 pansies. Go to an exhibition in May or June, and mark the best 

 stand in the whole collection ; and after ascertaining to whom it be- 

 longs, find out the owner, and proceed to make your choice, noting 

 down not only the names of the flowers fixed upon, but also affix a 

 minute to each separately, as it regards shape, substance of petal, 

 colour, and size. Then at your first opportunity go to the place where 

 they were grown ; ask the owner to point out to you (if possible) the 

 precise plants from which the flowers you chose were cut. Mark 

 well their appearance and habit, and then have recourse to your 

 minutes, to ascertain whether the flowers you see growing upon the 

 several plants correspond with the notes you took of them at the ex- 

 hibition. If they pretty nearly agree, you may safely make your 

 purchase of the kinds as first chosen : but if the flowers in general 

 appear much smaller, more flaccid, and too angular in shape, strike 

 out all such from your list, (they are inconstant, and will be sure to 

 disappoint you,) and fill up their places with others whose habit is 

 more to be relied on. 



One sentence more, and I will close this paper ; and if the Editor 

 approve of it, I shall, as opportunity offers, present you with a few 

 more papers on the choice of other flowers. 



As soon as you have made choice of a plant, examine minutely the 

 texture and richness of the soil in which it is growing ; and be care- 



