DEFINITION OF TERMS— FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 



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vented. The word "kind," used in connection with exhibiting flowers, is nearly- 

 identical with the word "genus," which, as explained above, itself consists of a group 

 of different species and varieties. The word " sort," when used in a similar way, is 

 identical with " variety," and therefore ought not to be used at all. Thus " kind " 

 would clearly mean a rose, a lily, a chrysanthemum; while "sorts " would mean all or 

 any varieties of these " kinds "■ — all sorts (varieties) of roses, all sorts of phloxes, or the 

 varieties of any other genus of plants. 



Now, it is very important for framers of schedules, exhibitors and judges, to clearly 

 understand this relative significance of the words " kinds " and " sorts " : for if a prize 

 be offered for, say, " twelve bunches of flowers, 'distinct,' or 'distinct varieties/" an 

 exhibitor would be within the terms of the schedule if he set up any twelve bunches 

 whatsoever, so long as no two of them were alike ; even if they comprised twelve 

 varieties of pinks, or of roses, or of any other kind of flower. But (and a very important 

 "but" it is) if the prize be offered for twelve "distinct kinds," only one example of 

 each genus may be staged, but this example may be either any original species of the 

 genus, or any variety of any species of it, but no two representatives may be taken 

 from the same genus. If a mixture of colour variations be allowed in a bunch, such as 

 Sweet Peas, Poppies, or any other flowers, it must be expressly so stated in schedules. 



It may be well also to state for the information of the inexperienced in such 

 matters, that the generic and specific names of plants are written in Latin, so that the 

 plants referred to may be recognised by botanists in various countries. It may be 

 sufficient for Englishmen to refer to the wild rose of our hedgerows as the Dog Eose, its 

 English name, but in order that all the world may comprehend a reference to the 

 species it must be accorded its universally known name Rosa canina ; and similarly our 

 fragrant sweet briar must also have its wider appellation, Rosa ruhiginosa. " Varieties," 

 on the other hand, obtained from seed by florists should receive popular names in the 

 language of the countries in which they have been raised, as Marechal Niel Eose, Mrs. 

 Pollock "Geranium" (Pelargonium), Mrs. Heal Begonia, Edwin Molyneux Chrys- 

 anthemum, and so on, and thus all kinds of florists' flowers either are or ought to be 

 invested with popular names ; attaching Latin names to them invites confusion. 



DEFINITION OF FLOEISTS' FLOWEES. 

 Flowers which have been obtained from seed, the result of judicious fertilisation 

 and careful selection by florists, and the varieties so raised, capable of increase by 



