ON BLEACHING THE TOM DAVRY PINK. 199 



dwelling in delightful gardens. The fondness for plants is natural 

 to all men who possess the least sensibility ; and however their 

 attention may be engaged by other pursuits, it generally happens that 

 this predilection shows itself during some period of their lives. Na- 

 ture seems to have designed men for the culture of her works, and to 

 have ordained that we should be born gardeners, since our earliest 

 inclinations lead us to the cultivation of flowers. The infant can no 

 sooner walk than its first employment is to plant a flower in the 

 earth, removing it almost every minute to wherever the sun shines 

 most favourably. I scarcely need remind you of the schoolboy who, 

 to lessen his anxious thoughts of the happy home he has left, culti- 

 vates with assiduity his little plot of ground. Even a Napoleon, a 

 Siddons, and a Kemble, on their retirement from the busy scenes of 

 life, devoted their time to this pursuit. 



Flowers have also from the earliest ages been the symbols by which 

 young persons have conveyed their sentiments to each other : for 

 instance, a Tulip presented by a male to a female in the east is a 

 symbol that his heart is all on fire, and almost reduced to a coal. A 

 Rose-bud presented is a sign of love to the party, and a full blown 

 Rose that their love is fully matured. The Violet is the emblem of 

 modesty, and the Pansy or Heartsease is considered to convey the 

 sentiment "think of me." The Daisy is the emblem of innocence. 

 The Wall-flower of fidelity in misfortune. I need not adduce any- 

 thing further in their behalf, but if, on further consideration, you feel 

 disposed to renew the delights of childhood, I shall feel pleasure in 

 giving you my advice and directions to aid and guide you in making 

 a judicious selection, and likely to contribute to your enjoyment. 



ARTICLE III. 



OBSERVATIONS ON BLEACHING THE TOM DAVEY PINK. 



BY MR. NORMAN, FLORIST, BULL-FIELDS, WOOLWICH. 



Having had several applications from Pink growers to inform them 

 how to bleach the flowers of Tom Uavey Pink, I am induced to for- 

 ward for insertion in the Floricultural Cabinkt the following: 

 observations on the mode of treatment I have pursued. 



The flower generally blooms of a blush colour well laced, but I 



