200 FIVE minutes' advice to a young florist. 



succeed; and when this is ones effected, you will require no other 

 incentive to urge you forward. 



I remember when I first began to cultivate flowers, I thought 

 within myself: " I will have, at the outset, a small, but first rate 

 collection." I therefore went to the different shows in the neighbour- 

 hood, for the purpose of choosing a stock ; and whatever struck my 

 fancy, if it came within my slender means, I did not fail to purchase 

 it, fondly calculating, that every such purchase would be a valuable 

 acquisition — but here, alas ! I was often miserably disappointed ; 

 for in numerous instances, owing perhaps to a different soil and 

 situation, not to mention very oft receiving wrong plants by mistake, 

 or something worse, many of my purchases proved comparatively 

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



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

 as to be half inclined to give up the culture of flowers altogether ; 

 but by patiently waiting a few days longer, I found other parts of my 

 purchase exceed my previous formed expectations ; this 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. 



In order to make your purchases, it is not enough that you go to 

 an exhibition ; for although, if there be a good flower, it is to be found 

 there as a matter of course ; yet it will frequently happen, that it is 

 the only good flower that the plant from which it was cut has borne 

 during the whole 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 select the best 

 nurseryman's stand in the whole collection, — and after ascertaining to 

 whom it belongs, find out the owner, and then proceed to make your 

 choice — taking down not only the names of the flowers chosen, but 

 but also affixing a minute to each separately, as it regards size, shape, 

 colour, substance of petal, &c, &c. Then at your first opportunity, 

 go to the place where they were grown — ask the owner to point out 

 to you the precise plants from which the flowers you made choice of 

 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 



I 



