102 THE FLORIST AND 



50° they will be found to flower freely, and will be exceedingly use- 

 ful for furnishing cut flowers. Seeds sown in April produce useful 

 plants for winter flowering, as they grow more vigorously during 

 the summer. When the beauty of the specimens is over, remove 

 the flower-stems, unless seed is wanted, and then only a few spikes 

 need be left. Place the plants in a shady situation, and keep them 

 clear of insects and properly supplied with water until a supply of 

 suckers is obtained, when the old plants may be thrown away.- — 

 Good fresh turfy loam, in the proportion of two parts to one of two 

 years old cow-dung, well intermixed with a quantity of clean sharp 

 sand, according to the nature of the loam, to ensure efficient drain- 

 age, forms an excellent compost for the Cineraria. For small plants, 

 leaf soil or sandy peat may be substituted for the cowdung. S. 



In Gard. Chron. 



For the Florist and Horticultural Journal. 



Dear Sir: 



Once again do I obey the pleading of an anxious pen to advocate 

 the cause of those guardian angels of mankind, flowers — I think I 

 hear some sectarian exclaim, guardian 'angels in flowers — irreligious, 

 — yes, I reiterate, my good friend, they are our guardian angels 

 and our guiding stars too. What a waste would this wide world be 

 were it not for them,— a fit tribute to the bride, and an accompany- 

 ment to the coffin,— grasped by the infant, and smiled upon by the 

 centenarian — fit companions to the gorgeous ball-room, and alike 

 welcome in the humblest cottage — adorners of the hero's brow, and 

 an acknowledged sign of peace, — used to decorate the hair of the 

 squaw, and no less becoming the most polished lady— admired by 

 all, young and old, grave and gay — emblems of woman's love, and 

 sharers in her true modesty — examples of purity, and teachers of 

 design, they combine that compound excellence which may be 

 sought for in vain elsewhere. Loudly does their wonderful struct- 

 ure, their varied colours and texture, their net-work of organization 

 proclaim to the sceptic, — "examine and look through our form and 

 make, and then decide whether or no we came into existence with- 

 out the aid of a designer,— are all parts thus brought into this beauti- 

 ful completeness and adapted to the ends to which we are so per- 



