36 THE GREEN-HOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



If we neglect all our old favorites, or give up well-grown, 

 valuable plants for others of unproved merit, simply because 

 the latter are new, the passion for novelties becomes a dis- 

 ease, and produces bad effects in practice. There is in this, 

 as in all other things, a happy medium, which alone is the 

 safe course : either extreme will lead us into error. 



The passion for novelties, or any injurious effects arising 

 therefrom, one 'would naturally suppose would be confined 

 to amateurs, simply because if for no other reason it 

 can only be indulged in by those whose pecuniary means 

 are ample. 



But this is not the case : we find our gardeners exerting 

 themselves to meet any demand for new, rare, and expen- 

 sive plants, to the neglect of our old and well-tried 

 favorites. 



All of us can call to mind some flowers, which, once 

 popular, are now hardly to be found in any collection ; and 

 yet we are at a loss to give a reason. Let us look at a few 

 cases. 



We all remember a pretty little double-flowering brier, 

 which goes by the name of " bridal rose ; " it is an ex- 

 quisite plant, foliage very delicate, and of a peculiar 

 living green, covering every branch ; flowers snowy white, 



