NINETEENTH CENTURY. 299 



century. Donald Beaton, writing his recollections in 1854, of 

 his early life as a gardener, tells how he remembers seeing 

 the first Petunia that ever flowered in this country, at Lower 

 Boughton, near Manchester, and the first Calceolaria in the 

 Epsom Nursery. The institution of Shows and Awards of 

 Merit has doubtless done much to stimulate the energy of 

 florists and promote the production of new varieties. In 

 Thomas Hogg's Treatise on the culture of the carnation and 

 other flowers in 1820, he submits the Rules of two " Societies 

 of Florists," in Islington and Chelsea, which had been started 

 some years previously, for encouraging the cultivation of 

 " Auriculas, Pinks, and Carnations." There were, he says, 

 " several other societies of the same description in the 

 neighbourhood of London, but these two are not only the 

 most numerous in point of numbers, but likewise the most 

 respectable in regard to the members composing them." The 

 Rules of this Society are given at length. The subscription 

 was i. us 6d a year, and the value of the prizes, six in 

 number, was presented to the successful candidates on Show 

 Days. On the appointed days a dinner was held, and each 

 member had to buy a dinner-ticket for the Auricula, the 

 Carnation, and Pink shows. The flowers were judged by three 

 members selected from among those present, and the flowers 

 passed round the table while all were sitting at dinner, 

 " beginning on the President's right hand, and returning on 

 his left, in order that each person may distinctly view them." 

 Many such societies have been started since then to encourage 

 the florist varieties of different classes of flowers. Perhaps the 

 most conspicuous have been those in connection with the rose, 

 and more recently the chrysanthemum, which now boast of 

 National Societies. The National Chrysanthemum Society 

 originated in the one at Stoke Newington. That locality of 

 London, which has for centuries been the haunt of gardens, 

 from the times of L'Obel and Fairchild, and on to that of 

 Loddiges, has not forgotten its old traditions ; even in the 

 midst of fog and smoke the dwellers in the East of London try 

 to cultivate flowers. The chrysanthemum occupies much of 

 their attention, and that they can cultivate them with success 



