INTRODUCTION. 



Clirysantliemums have, perhaps, come more to the front of hxte years than any other 

 chiss of plants that can be named. A National Society, and iinmmevable local societies, 

 have been formed in hononr of this " Antnmn Qaeen " ; and it is largely due to the 

 influence of those societies that such extraordinary strides have been made. It is the 

 Japanese section that has done so much to popularise the Golden Flower ; but the 

 improvement has been general, the different types having been taken in hand by such 

 raisers, among others, as Beckett, Calvat, Boucharlat, Cannell, Davis, Delaux, Doughty, 

 Jones, Lacroix, Laing, Pitcher and Manda, Owen, Salter, SauteL Seward, Shea, Smith, 

 Wells, and Spaulding. So many and diverse are the varieties in the different sections 

 that it is now possible to have chrysanthemums from July till ]\Iarch, the blooms ranging 

 from the size and form of a mop-head down to a button. 



Carnations, likewise, merit a separate paragraph, not merely owing to any very 

 marked improvement in the new varieties constantly added to the list, though these 

 are decidedly good, but rather on account of the revived popularity of this serviceable 

 class of flowers. So much are carnations appreciated, that numerous houses have been 

 constructed in private gardens for their special culture on quite a large scale. The 

 Malmaison group has been most honoured in this respect, and so greatly are these 

 fine forms in demand, that we hear of market growers having as many as 30,000 plants 

 under glass, solely for furnishing cut blooms. It is even more satisfactory to note that 

 border carnations are much more popular now than for many years past, and of these 

 there are now numerous excellent varieties available, while a great percentage of 

 good flowers may be raised from a packet of seed. To a distinguished amateur, 

 Mr. Martin E. Smith, the world is indebted for many beautiful carnations ; Mr. James 

 Douglas, of Bookham ; Mr. Charles Turner, of Slough ; and other florists having 

 also been successful in raising varieties of permanent value. 



Tuberous begonias may be said to be quite a modern flower. The originals from 

 which the present grand strains have been worked up by Messrs. Laing, Yeitch, 

 B. E. Davis, Cannell, Ware, and others, are so poor and insignificant as to be only 

 retained as curiosities. The magnificent varieties now cultivated represent in a strikini;' 

 manner the potency of pollen transference from flower to flower, as influencing the seed 

 and producing varieties, double and single, in size and beauty such as were not dreamt 

 of twenty years ago. Not till this very effective class of plants came to the frunt 

 was the reign of scarlet geraniums," or, moro strictly speaking, zonal pelargoniums, 

 threatened ; but these have also been greatly improved. Every section lias been largely 



