FEBRUARY. 



27 



either side of the centre compartment, are finished, and the plants already placed in them. 

 Some of the ironwork not "being ready for use, it has been thought advisable to stop the work 

 upon the building for a month or two during the winter, but in spring it will proceed rapidly. 

 During the winter the terraces will be thrown up, and the walks in the neighbourhood of the 

 house completed ! As the gravel for this purpose will be taken from tho bed of the new 

 lake, a double purpose will be served by this means. 



Delta. 



GOOD SUGGESTIONS. 



"What subscriber to the Florist and Pomologist has not with'pleasure read the amusing 

 and instructive articles relative to Roses contributed from time to time by that veteran 

 florist, the Vicar of Rushton ? "What Rose-grower has not read them without gaining some 

 practical information upon the culture of the queen of flowers ? Who, as an amateur, has 

 not been guided in his purchases of Roses by his accurate description of tho qualities of 

 old and new varieties ? I should say none. His ideas have been most valuable to those who 

 have but a certain sum annually to spare in the purchase of novelties, and who, of course, 

 cannot afford to be disappointed. It is not mere theory he gives, for all who saw the splendid 

 boxes of blooms exhibited by him at the various shows during the past season, I am sure 

 must have been gratified at the good practice he has made. I recollect the box shown at 

 Kensington on September 11th. I believe I never saw a better twenty- four ; it was before 

 the Censors had been round, and I placed them where I ultimately found them (as the 

 Vicar's man "Will says), a first prize. Long may the Vicar and his man be spared to gain 

 many more first prizes, and to contribute his interesting and valuable papers to tho pages of 

 the Florist and Pomologist. 



We are not all Rose-growers, however, and I have no doubt there are many subscribers 

 to the Florist and Pomologist, who as he receives his monthly part, turns over its pages (I 

 generally do myself), in the hope of finding something said about his favourite flower, what- 

 ever that flower may be, as we each have our particular fancy. Now, this is what we want 

 — to make its pages more interesting to the many ; and so it would if growers of different 

 flowers would give their ideas and experiences as the Vicar of Rushton does to Rose- growers. 



Take the Dahlia for instance. Whatever spiteful names some people may choose to call 

 it, it happens to be my favourite flower ; and in my opinion, for exhibition and a flower for 

 the people, stands second to the Rose, and will be a very long time before any other can be 

 brought forward to displace it in public favour. Its cultivation is certainly not so easy as 

 the Rose ; the trouble, time, and attention required to produce blooms fit for exhibition are 

 much greater, and the many new varieties being continually sent out make the labour 

 very much more to an amateur (especially to many who have to depend upon their own 

 treatment and observations) . 



Such are the claims by which I hope to engage the attention of some of your numerous 

 correspondents, and I observe in the long list of eminent professional and anmteur florists 

 as subscribers, there are many who are competent (if they would oblige) to give good and 

 valuable suggestions upon the culture of the different varieties of this popular flower ; and, I 

 hope contributors will be more liberal to the new series, not only with papers upon the Rose 

 and Dahlia, but every other florists' flower. 



Lower Easton, Bristol. Thomas Hobbs. 



P.S. — It would be a great guide if raisers of good varieties wonld state at the time they 

 are sent out the treatment they had used to produce fine and good blooms we frequently see 

 exhibited as seedlings, for I have no doubt there have been many excellent sorts condemned 

 through the particular treatment they required not being known. * 



Transplanting Large Trees.— When large trees are transplanted from a warm or 

 sheltered situation to one more exposed, they frequently suffer by the change of climate, and 

 become what is called hidebound and stunted, remaining for years without making much 

 growth. In our own practice, we invariably wrap the stems and larger branches with hay- 

 bands or moss; and in some cases have also tied the spray of the spruce or fern amongst the 

 branches, to break the force of the wind and afford the trees shelter for a season. By keeping 

 the moss or hay damped the ensuing spring, our trees have generally started away freely^ 

 whereas, neglect them the first year and they will stand still for years.— Gh F. 



