THE FLORIST 



AND HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL 



BEGONIA PRESTONIENSIS. 



The beautiful plant which we figure this month is the first hybrid 

 which has been raised in the now very popular genus Begonia. It 

 was obtained by Mr. T. Frost, gardener to Mr. Betts, at Preston 

 Hall, in the county of Kent, in England, from seeds of B . cinnaharin^ 

 fertilized by B. nitida. It has the foliage and flowers of the first, 

 with the shrubby habit and disposition to flower abundantly of the 

 latter. It has not yet flowered in this country, but has lately been 

 introduced to this city. 



For the Florist and Horticultural Journal.' 



THE GENUS DIANTHUS AND THE CULTURE OF THE PINK. 



The genus Dianthus, as its name imports, is truly divine, and numbers 

 amongst its numerous species a collection of the greatest gems '•of Flora, 

 many of them being not only lovely to view but possessing the desirable 

 accompaniment of the most delicious perfume ; indeed, so exquisite is this 

 latter quality in some kinds that we may seek through the whole vegetable 

 kingdom and not find it surpassed. "VYho that has snuffed the delightfully 

 aromatic, and pungent sweetness of the Garden Pink will deny this asser- 

 tion? and even the remaining few that have not experienced the gratifying 

 sensation in reality from the material body, know well of the fact from the 

 frequent allusions made to it about the time when Cupid roams amongst the 

 valentines. We are here reminded how frequently we culled, as we thought, 

 the sweetest flower in the garden, and that flower a Pink, to accompany us 

 on that errand of love, which most persons are prone \o in their youthful 

 days, and with what satisfaction as a duplicate of sweetness has this little 

 token been presented. 



Somehow or other, Mr. Editor, whenever I begin to write about flowers, I 

 cannot help associating them with the more tender feelings and higher sen- 

 timents of human nature, so you must excuse this lengthy preface. 

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