DIVISION II. 

 CUT FLOWERS. 



This is an important part of all horticultural exhibitions, and 

 forms a centre of great attraction to visitors generally, while 

 the ilorists' flowers are a source of unmeasured enthusiasm 

 on the part of the amateur, who enters with the keenest zest 

 into competition with his rivals in this interesting section. 

 Immense improvements have been developed in recent times 

 among the beautiful subjects comprised in this division, parti- 

 cularly in some of the florists' flowers classes, in which there 

 has been a marked advance in- the size and shape of the flowers, 

 substance of petal, richness and variety of colour, and all other 

 points that go to constitute a perfect bloom. It is not neces- 

 sary, however, to dwell at length on the advances made by 

 the various sections of cut flowers, and only a selection of the 

 best varieties of each genus is given under their respective 

 popular titles in the following descriptions. 



AXXUALS. 

 Collections of the flowers of annuals have become very 

 popular at autumn flower-shows, and when they are tastefully 

 set up in proper-sized bunches they make an effective dis- 

 play. They are divided into two classes, half-hardy and hardy 

 annuals. Some of the most showy of both classes, however, 

 are useless for exhibition, as they fade within a short time 

 after they are gathered. 



HALF-HAEDY AXXUALS. 

 These include the following beautiful species and varie- 

 ties suitable for exhibition : — Alonsoii Warscewicxii, Calliopsis 



