TIMELY TOPICS FOR THE AMATEUR.-X. 



[We have pleasure in again showing our readers 

 the face of our most valued correspondent on Flori- 

 culture, Mr. W. Hunt, of Hamilton, who writes for 

 us so regularly under the nam de plume of 

 ' ' Hortus. " Long life to one who is making himself 

 so useful to our readers] 



1901, 



Fig. 1964. Wm. Hunt. 



EC EMBER, 1900! The present 



, number of the Horticulturist com. 



plates the last volume for the 19th 



century. The next issue, January, 



will indicate the launching forth into 



20th century horticulture ! 



A glance backwards into the records ot 

 horticulture of the fast closing- pages of the 

 present century, reveals the fact that great 

 progress has been made during that period 

 in all parts of the civilized world. 



Floriculture more especially has become 

 much more popular and universal, particu- 

 larly during the latter half of the century. 

 The improved social conditions prevailing, 

 and a better and more general system of 

 education than before existed, have favor- 

 ably influenced the growth of floriculture to 

 a considerable extent. The opening up or 

 new countries to commerce, with increased 

 facilities of communication, have also been 

 the means of adding considerably to the 

 somewhat meagre list of foreign and exotic 

 plants that had been introduced to horticul- 

 ture prior to the advent of the 19th century-. 



A glance through the catalogues of our 

 nurserymen and florists of the present day, 

 or a stroll through our principal markets 

 when the flower season is at its height, are 

 convincing proofs of the great advance made 

 in floriculture of recent years. 



Plants that are indigenous only to tropical 

 and sub-tropical climates, and that half a 

 century ago were seen only in the gardens 

 of the wealthy are now within the reach of 

 almost every one, at reasonable prices. The 



