150 Review of (he FloricuJtural Cabinet mid FlorisCs Magazine. 



Art. ir. The Plorindtural Cabinet and Florist's Magazine. Con- 

 ducted by Joseph Harkison. In monthly numbers, 8vo. London, 

 No. XXill. ; January, 1835. 



This is a very interesting little work, and contains much infor- 

 mation for the florist. Tlie work has already reached two vol- 

 umes, and this number is the commencement of the third. We shall 

 occasionally review the work, extracting such matter as we think 

 will add value to our Magazine. 



The first article is, " on the impregnation and raising of the Carna- 

 tion and Pink from seed." In this the correspondent gives the fol- 

 lowing as his mode of proceeding : — 



"I select such flowers as are perfectly double, and I know of none better 

 than the lollowiu^j: — Roi de Capucliiiis, s. b. ; Wood's William the Fourtii, 

 c. h. ; Addeiibroke's Lydia, s. f ; Lancashire Lass, r. f. ; Turner's Princess 

 Cliarlotie, p. f. In Picotecs— Hufiou's Will Slukoly, r. ]). ; Annesley's Achil- 

 les, r. ]). ; Ifufton'ri Miss Willoufihby, p.]).; and Jeeve's Moonraker, p.p. 

 Tliat such flowers as these may produce seed, it will be necessary to let every 

 bud remain to bloom. When tiiey are fully ex))anded, and the pistils assiune 

 a glittering icy a])pearance, take any one hall-expanded bloom, and tear it 

 open, when will be seen the apices, or pods, containing the pollen, or dust: 

 take one of these, and, if not already biu'st, o])en it, and draw it along the pis- 

 tils, tiil you see some of the ])owder adhering to them. If this has been pro- 

 perly done, the bloom will close in two or three hours ; and if no alteration 

 takes place, repeat it till it docs. Li two or three days after imjiregnation 

 has taken place, cut off" all the other buds, and remove the plant to a situa- 

 tion where it will get plenty of sun; keep it well supplied with water, and 

 protect the ca[)sule from rain, by placing a square piece of thin board upon 

 the stick, just above it ; gather the seed when ri|)e, and keep it in the pod 

 in a well-corked vial. Ii will be also necessary to protect the pod from ear- 

 wigs, which is best done by winding a little fresh sheej)'s wool roimd the 

 stick and stem; they will not attempt to ])ass over it, as it entangles them. 



"These directions a])ply equally as well to Piid\S, with the exception that 

 the bloom from which the pollen is to be taken must be o})ened before it be- 

 gins to expand, or the apices will all be burst, and the pollen gone." 



Article 3 is "on the Blooming of Double Stocks in Pots," "It is com- 

 monly known," says the writer, "that innumerable quantities of plants of 

 the Scarlet and White Stock are annually bloomed in pots ; but the difficid- 

 ty which occurs in procuring strong blooming plants in pots, without the aid 

 of a greendiouse, has rendered the system somewhat unpopular with many 

 amateur florists, who naturally dislike to see a degenerate growth, and an in- 

 different bloom in pots, after witnessing the handsome api)earance wiiich 

 they present in their flower-beds and borders." 



In order to cause vigorous plants to bloom, the writer directs "the seed 

 should be sown in a frame late in autumn, giving the advantage of all mild 

 weather, but closing the lights at night, and affording sufficient protection 

 of matting during tlie severity of winter. Some are sown as late as Christ- 

 mas, weather pernfitting. The seed sown in spring will never produce 

 ])lants so early, if so fine, as the autumnal sown plants. 



"The soil best suited to the Stock appears to be a rich, light, sandy loam, 

 moderately manm-ed with old frame-dung, well incorporatetl together; or if 

 a heavy strong loam is used, a good portion of sharp grey sand should be 

 united with it, manuring it with old frame-dung, as above. 



