ON EXHIBITING FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 31 



the properties requisite to make a fine one. I should advise " A 

 Young Beginner," before he purchases any plants, to attend the exhi- 

 bition of a society where this class of flowers are shown, and take notes 

 of the varieties he would wish to purchase, for there the blooms are 

 seen to the greatest perfection, and afterwards go to the garden where 

 the plants are growing, to see the habit of them, as that is of the 

 greatest consequence. If, in his visit to both these places, he takes 

 as his guide the following properties, he will have as fine a collection 

 as can be obtained. The flower ought not to be less than two inches 

 across, with its guard petals free from notch, thick and smooth. The 

 bloom should not have less than fifteen petals, laid regularly in three 

 rows, each tier rising so as to form a fine bold crown. Petals stitf 

 and slightly cupped. The stripes bold and distinct on a pure white 

 ground. The colours clear and brilliant, and, if there be two, should 

 form as great a contrast to each other as possible. The flower-stalk 

 ought not to be less than thirty or more than forty inches long, strong, 

 and elastic. The pod should be long and large, to enable the flower 

 to bloom without bursting. " A Young Beginner" will undoubtedly 

 find it very difficult to obtain these properties concentrated in one 

 variety, but he must make choice of such flowers as enjoy the ma- 

 jority. 



ARTICLE V. 



ON EXHIBITING FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 



BY VI.ORISTA. 



I send a few observations in reply to the remarks of a " Junior Flo- 

 rist" in the January number of the Cabinet, respecting the Article 

 " On exhibiting Florists' Flowers," inserted in the previous November 

 number. He commences his observations with stating, " that he 

 cannot agree with the writer in the opinion that the exhibition of 

 flowers in classes is either mischievous or impolitic." If a " Junior 

 Florist" will take the trouble attentively to read the Article in ques- 

 tion once more, he will find the " mischievousness or impolicy " con- 

 sists of only permitting one flower of a variety to be admitted into its 

 class, to the exclusion of infinitely superior flowers than those chiefly 

 composing such class. 



To make myself intelligible, I will suppose A, B, and C, each exhi- 



