1S5S.] THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. 281 



* 3 L v" ^6cl? 



I^q Again, in the designs — we would think that they should be prefei- r@J 

 ed for gracefulness, for appropriateness, and for the rarity of the mj 

 flowers which compose them. A large pyramid of coarse flowers makes 

 a showy object sometimes, but there is no real beauty or value in it; 

 a basket, is generally, we think, a much handsomer and more tasteful 

 object. There is a premium offered for this, and for a hand bouquet ; 

 both of these are useful. Whether baskets and bouquets of indigen- 

 ous plants promote the study of native botany, is a question. The 

 collection of named indigenous plants in pots we consider a most in- 

 teresting and important one ; but the judges must know enough of na- 

 tive botany to be able to distinguish the rarest collection. Twenty 

 plants might easily be shown in pots here, which, if shown in London, 

 would receive a Banksian medal. 



The committee for awarding these premiums have no easy task — 

 they will generally be censured for something by some body 5 but if 

 composed of men of taste, who are acquainted with plants, and who 

 are thoroughly posted up, they cannot err very far. No judgment 

 should be made without their being able to give a reason for it, for 

 judges of all kinds are in a measure responsible to public opinion, and 

 the reputation of the society depends in a great measure on their capa- 

 bility. It is an acknowledged difficulty in all societies, to procure 

 persons willing to act as judges who are capable, and yet entirely dis- 

 interested ; amateurs of sufficient knowledge generally are exhibitors 

 themselves, and nurserymen are interested in the success perhaps oi a 

 certain plant, or kind of plants; but difficulties can be overcome,, and 

 we have no doubt will be in these cases as well as in others. That 

 the judges could carry out the rule of making awards before the Hall 

 is crowded with visitors, we believe entirely practicable; if the hour 

 is too early, keep the visitors out another half hour. 



We shall return again to this subject, and take up other parts of the 

 schedule; meanwhile w T e invite communications from any one who 

 has any ideas to offer, as we would like to see the matter well dis- 

 cussed. ■ -■' 



Winter is upon us,- and in a few Weeks even the few rose's which 

 are left in our gardens, and the useful Chrysanthemum, will cease to 

 enliven the scenes The forest trees have been bare of leaves for a 

 month past, and how dreary and desolate will those places, which are 

 destitute of evergreens, appear ! In some neighborhoods, there are 

 cedars enough of the common kind to take away from the' entire bare- 

 ness of the scene. This is observable in the districts to the westward 

 L of the city, in West Philadelphia, ai.d on the western- bank of the 

 » Schuylkill, above Fairmount. G\ 



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