252 



Another advantage might I think accrue to wholesale growers, as it 

 would in all probability lead to an increased demand for good sorts, 

 whilst the inferior varieties would naturally improve the stock of 

 border flowers, by an addition of such sorts as ought never to have 

 been exhibited on a prize stage. 



I would suggest that a committee of growers be appointed by each 

 horticultural society in the kingdom, and that they be instructed to 

 decide upon the price at which new productions ought to be sent out, 

 and also to grant certificates under their hands, containing a true 

 statement of the real merits of such flowers, which I apprehend 

 would be an ample guarantee to purchasers ; the public would nut 

 then so often see the announcement of new varieties going out with a 

 character of " first rate," which after being thus introduced, bloom, 

 then sink into oblivion, and are heard of no more. 



I anticipate that my suggestion will meet with the decided oppo- 

 sition of those parties who are in the habit of sending out annually 

 numbers of seedlings, by which florists' flowers have of late increased 

 in quantity more than quality ; but if such persons had been pur- 

 chasers at a high price of worthless varieties, I think they would be 

 as anxious as myself to have a standard adopted for testing the merits 

 of new flowers. 



As exhibiting in classes is the adopted mode of testing the merits of 

 flowers singly, let them be thrown open so as to admit all the best 

 blooms, whether of one variety or several, and at once set aside the 

 narrow principle which dictates the placing of secondary sorts, for 

 varieties sake ; then we shall soon perceive that in many points the 

 interests of florists will progress as rapidlv as they have of late retro- 

 graded. 



[It is very general now for seedlings, of what are termed florist 

 flowers, to be exhibited in single specimens the first season, and in 

 increased numbers of six or more the second, at some of the principal 

 exhibitions in this country, and before sending out as first rate 

 flowers to have been approved there, and then offered to the public in 

 the third season, if there be stock to justify so doing, so that our cor- 

 respondent mistakes if the assertion is meant to apply to all. 



Formerly, when floral exhibitions were much less numerous and 

 extensive than now, specimens of seedling flowers were generally 

 shown very locally, and but at a few small exhibitions, perhaps in 



