102 



THE FLORIST ANT) POMOLOGIST. 



(I won't say of a humbler class — never, where all are alike the offspring of 

 one great Creator's skill), and as fellow labourers and improvers in the same 

 great field of practical horticulture. 



Why, I am told that it is no uncommon thing for one great exhibitor to 

 obtain from £50 to £70 at a single exhibition ! Goodness me ! only let one 

 £50 be offered for collections and specimens of hardy border flowers, and a 

 reasonable time given to attend to their cultivation, and see what could be 

 produced in this way. And let the Society consider what an impulse this 

 would give to out-door gardening — to gardening which would embellish our 

 cottage homes and rural rides, and to encourage which would be one means 

 of conveying the most innocent recreation to the threshold of every poor man's 

 door. If all comes to all, I again repeat, Let us encourage more freely the 

 classes of hardy florists' flowers, of out-door flowers, of flowers which grow 

 equally well in the cottager's garden, or the weaver's allotment, as in the 

 gardens of the wealthy ; and, somehow or other, I must press upon you to 

 take up this subject strongly, as you have ever done what you have under- 

 taken ; and I doubt not we shall, in some quarter or other, get due recognition 

 for the classes now too much neglected by the great Society, or a popular 

 florists' flower society must be started. — Florist. 



["We publish the above two letters, received from practical florists, and we are bound to 

 admit that there is much of truth in what, more especially, our last correspondent says on 

 the subject. We regret to say also, that the above are only a few of the complaints whieh 

 we have received on similar subjects. Altogether matters appear to be again assuming 

 the same unsatisfactory aspect which clung so long round the neck of the Chiswick dynasty, 

 until it finally collapsed under the weight, and was only resuscitated by circumstances and 

 means which will appear to have been very adventitious, unless they lead to the full develop- 

 ment of horticulture in every point of view. The Horticultural regime has never been a 

 popular one, nor yet ultimately fortunate. In the early stage of the Society there was nothing 

 Dut mismanagement, which brought on a great disruption and change ; but which, importu- 

 nately, improved nothing, and the Society fell through sheer incapacity to fulfil its duties. 

 There is a great chance for it now ; but not even the greatness of the opportunity, nor the 

 rank and number of its patrons will ultimately save it, if its proceedings are not characterised 

 by liberality in the right direction, and a wise economy in others. At the very outset the 

 Council, unfortunately, broke faith with the public in respect to the design for the formation 

 of the Gardens at Kensington, which was to have been submitted to a competitive trial ; 

 and there appeared throughout the earlier stages of the Society's connection with the Eoyal 

 Commissioners a something which, though it would probably be unfair to condemn as truckling 

 to that body, yet which did not exhibit that independence of action which would have been 

 more dignified in the Council to have assumed. We trust we shall see for the future more 

 gardening management in the operations of the Council, and less of that which we hear 

 frequently characterised by epithets which are far from complimentary. — Eds. F. & P.] 



THE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING A PLANT-HOUSE ON A 



NORTH ASPECT IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. 



When the main range of new hothouses was erected here, a space on the 

 back wall was reserved for a plant-house, for retarding or keeping plants longer 

 in flower in warm weather. This house is roofed with glass, and is 76 feet in 

 length, 14 feet in breadth, and 18 feet in height, quite open to the north in 

 summer, and is not artificially heated. I find the Sikkim and Bhotan Rhodo- 

 dendrons are quite at home in it, and are beginning to flower plentifully this 

 year for the first time. In the beginning of April several of the Bhotan 

 seedlings showed their flower-buds, and I then introduced them into a warmer 

 house, where they flowered beautifully ; and one variety, Jenkinsii, is a great 

 acquisition, the flowers being as large as Edgeworthii, of a better shape, and 

 as sweet scented. The Sikkim Rhododendrons in this house flower well every 

 year, the list comprising Dalhousianum, Nuttalli, Edgeworthi, Maddeni, 



