Forcii^n JK^utices. — EivAand. G5 



as have obtained first class prizes, at several of the London or lead- 

 iiiiif provincial shows, when it may lie presumed that they have been 

 seen and au[)ruved by competent and impartial judges. Others, 

 having in perfection only two or three qualities, may yet be desira- 

 ble, and worth a place in stands of fifty or one hundred, yet should 

 not be placed on a level with the liest flowers: such might he let out 

 at seven and sixpence or five shillings; and if fiirly described, and 

 accredited by the censors who had awarded prizes to them, would 

 find a ready sale, and the public confidence be maintained: whereas, 

 by the grossly exaggerated statements constantly put forth, amateurs 

 of the dahlia will grow tired of being over and over again deceived 

 into the purchase of worthless varieties, and the dahlia sink from 

 the raidi it has so long held in public estimation, as a florist's flower," 

 These remarks are perfectly correct: nothing has done so much to 

 discourage amateurs fro/n purchasing the new sorts, as the great 

 disajjpointments which they have ex()erienced in years back: new 

 sorts are cracked up, to use a connnon phrase, as surpassing any of 

 those which have preceded then), and are sold at the highest prices: 

 but when the}' come into l)loom, they have, in four cases out of five, 

 proved little or no better, and, in many instances, not near ns good, as 

 the old sorts, which have been some time under cultivation. Ama- 

 teurs have been disgusted with the dece])tion which has been prac- 

 tised: they are willing to pay well for fine kinds; but to lose their 

 money and their labor, and, in the end, be rewarded with only a few 

 inferior blooms, is taxing them too severely. A reaction, in conse- 

 quence, takes place; they refuse to purchase high priced ones at all, 

 and cultivate only the older kinds; they soon become less interested 

 from the continued growth of the same sorts, and eventually give 

 up the cultivation of the dahlia. On the contrary, if the amateur 

 purchases a few high priced flowers, and they prove of superior 

 beauty to any he possesses, it creates a desire to add others, and 

 every season, as his taste increases, his desire to possess the newest 

 will be greater. The interest in the dahlia will then be kept up. 



We could name several new kinds which have been inj|)orted, and 

 sold at high prices to our amateurs, but very few of them would novv 

 be tolerated in a collection. Some of them cost as high as £5. 5s., (or 

 $i25,) not two years ago, but they would not now bring fifty cents 

 each. These very kinds, however, were stated to be the very finest 

 in England, were figured in the periodicals, and obtained premiums 

 at several of the exhibitions of the flowers. So signal have been the 

 failures, that amateurs can hardly be persuaded that their future ef- 

 forts will not be attended with like results. 



The exhibitions for the fall are all over, and we have reports from 

 several of the most prominent jjrovincial societies. We have not 

 room, however, to go into a detail of the names of all which have 

 gained prizes; but we shall select a few of the leading premiums, 

 from the several societies, to show in what estimation the flowers 

 are held. This will as well be perceived from an enumeration of 

 the premier prizes of each of the exhibitions, as if we were to g?ve 

 the whole reports. 



The tollowing are the names of the societies, the reports of which 

 we give below, viz. The North London Amateur Floricultural Soci- 

 VOL. VII. NO. II. 9 



