Metropolitan Society of Florists and Amateurs. 55 



which, by a peculiar mode of culture, flowers several times in the season. On 

 November 19. I observed a full pottle of raspberries ; also several punnets of 

 strawberries, which were abundantly furnished to the tables of several of the 

 city corporate companies on the Lord Mayor's Day (November 9.). The 

 raspberry was the old double-bearing variety, which, after all, is, I believe, 

 quite a casualty. The strawberry was Myatt's new pine-apple variety ; but its 

 property of autumnal bearing requires confirmation. The supply of apples is 

 abundant : as the season advances, they continue to arrive from more dis- 

 tant ports ; as they will, from their better maturity, bear the carriage ; but it 

 is generally remarked that they do not keep well. Of pears we have com- 

 paratively none but what are imported. Quinces have been scarce ; medlars 

 not plentiful, but in moderate supply. Notwithstanding our general heavy 

 crop of grapes, we have had a most abundant supply from Holland; three or 

 four tons' weight per week during the last month. English chestnuts have 

 been abundant, and of excellent quality ; being well ripened by the continued 

 fine weather. We have now an excellent supply of Spanish and French. 

 From the general depression in the price of vegetables, the growers complain 

 of heavy losses, which, in addition to the depressed state of market-gardening 

 generally, makes their prospects very gloomy. Whether this state of things 

 will be ameliorated by any change of circumstances, it is impossible to con- 

 jecture ; but, without some material improvement, I am quite at a loss to ima- 

 gine how the business can continue to be carried on. From the large capital 

 that is now necessarily embarked in the carrying on of the horticulture of the 

 neighbourhood of London, almost for its immediate supply, some steps should 

 be taken to relieve it from the overwhelming difficulties with which it is 

 threatened. This must be matter of serious consideration to the proprietors 

 of the soil so occupied, or to the legislature, by some relief from such taxes as 

 more immediately affect it. It must necessarily have the same fair claim to 

 protection as any of the manufacturing interests, which from time to time 

 claim from the government the reduction of some peculiar enactment which 

 may affect their respective interests. — G. C. Dec. 20. 1834. 



Art. VI. The Metropolitan Society of Florists and Amateurs. 



Tins Society held, on Dec. 17., at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in the 

 Strand, their show of winter floricultural productions. Of these, a great 

 number were brought together : potted plants in flower, from the stove, green- 

 house, and hardy department; and potted hardy evergreen plants; gathered 

 flowers, a good proportion of them of hardy kinds ; and specimens of flower- 

 painting. Most of these were disposed in a girdling bank around the magni- 

 ficent room used, in this tavern, for public assemblies ; the rest were placed in 

 about three separate groups up its centre : the whole were, consequently, well 

 displayed to inspection. 



Of the general assemblage. Cape ericas and Chinese chrysanthemums were 

 the more abundant subjects. To these maybe added well nigh all the species 

 of green-house plants which are known to flower at this season of the year : 

 as some of the species of E'pacris, Polygala, Corr^'w, GrevlUea, Lechenaultia, 

 and numerous other genera. Several plants of the ^olanum Pseudo-Capsicum 

 were ornamental in its orangy fruit. 



Of the less common species of plants in flower, we have noted the follow- 

 ing : — Luciditt gratissima, Messrs. Henderson ; a prize. Cypripedium insigne, 

 with thirteen flowers all in perfection upon it, Messrs. Rollison ; a prize. Two 

 magnificent plants of Crinum giganteum ?, a selection of fine amaryllises, 

 forced narcissuses, forced lilacs, Camelh'« Sweetii, Echeveria gibbiflora, from 

 Messrs. Adams and Durban, successors to the late Mr. Colvill ; one or more 

 prizes. Cymbidium sinense, Dendrobiura Calceolaria, E'pacris impressa. 



