ARTISANS FLORISTS. 133 



Many of the poor, at least the most industri- 

 ous and meritorious of the poor, are passionate- 

 ly fond of flowers; and I have always found 

 them much pleased when asked for cuttings of 

 any favourite plant. This I have no hesitation 

 in doing, when I see they have enough; be- 

 cause I always have it in my power to make 

 them some return, and because, also, I hope 

 that noticing and admiring their little gardens, 

 may induce them to continue so simple and 

 innocent an amusement, and to pass those few 

 hours which they can spare from labour, in the 

 midst of their families, rather than in idleness 

 or at the tavern. 



It is remarked that those labourers whose 

 employments are most sedentary, such as 

 weavers, &c., are also more particularly fond 

 of growing plants, and are, in fact, great florists. 

 The Spitalfields weavers, it is said, have small 



