44 



THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 



is a gay, cheerful, and decorative spring flower for the conservatory, and it is 

 especially useful as a free-flowering bedding-out plant; but at the present 

 time, although thousands of seedlings are annually produced, yet this valuable 

 plant seems to be overlooked in our public exhibitions. We rarely find prizes 

 offered for specimens of the Petunia. I know not how to explain this omission, 

 for we have the recommendations of colour, form, and fragrance.^ We no 

 longer see the old, loose, flaccid, pentangular form, dull and heavy in colour, 

 but we have the florists' greatest points of excellence fully exemplified — circular 

 form and substance of flower. To speak only of the single varieties, there are 

 some very charming flowers in selfs, striped, striated, or veined varieties, with 

 deep and dark centres. Some of those which were exhibited last season by 

 Mr. Bull, Chelsea, gained the admiration of all who saw them. 



But when we speak of the double varieties of this flower, it is really sur- 

 prising that we so seldom see a good specimen plant exhibited. Who that 

 ever beheld a well-trained specimen of that charming old double variety, 

 Antigone, well covered with its snoAV white flowers, did not express his^ heart- 

 felt admiration ? or who that has had the good fortune to see a specimen of 

 that beautifully mottled mauve and white flower, Eliza Mathieu, sent out last 

 year by Mr. G. Smith, Hornsey, could fail to pronounce it a first-rate plant, 

 well deserving the first-class certificate which was awarded it ? We need only 

 mention these two varieties as useful kinds — there are many others of equal 

 merit. We may particularly notice the four double varieties sent to the 

 Kensington Gardens last summer by Messrs. Low, Clapton. These were but 

 small plants with one flower only expanded. Should these varieties prove true 

 to their character they will be a great acquisition to those already in cultivation. 



The Petunia displays some little disposition to sport, and many complaints 

 have been made this summer of the inconstancy of the variety Mrs. Ferguson ; 

 but a proper attention to soil, and a due limit to the size of the pot the 

 specimens are grown in, will generally remedy this evil and insure success. 



Trusting that these few hasty remarks may meet the eye of some enter- 

 prising amateur, and induce him boldly to come forth to show the floricultural 

 world how much may be done with the Petunia, and how sadly it has been 

 neglected, we may then hope to see during the coming summer specimens 

 exhibited which shall induce people to stop to admire them. Let no one be 

 discouraged because no special award is offered in these days of horticultural 

 economy. Let no one feel ashamed of exhibiting in the Miscellaneous class — the 

 refuge for all florists' flowers, for, if worthy, plants therein exhibited cannot 

 fail to meet with their reward. P. 



CULTURE OF THE IXORA. 



This is an exceedingly fine genus of plants, many of them being, when 

 well grown and bloomed, amongst the most effective and attractive of stove 

 plants'. Nearly all the varieties bloom very freely, and none are particularly 

 difficult to manage; but, save in the collections of a few of our leading 

 exhibitors of stove and greenhouse plants, fine specimens of these are rarely 

 met with. And I think it would be difficult to name any genus which is 

 so commonly mismanaged as this is, and this even where the necessary con- 

 veniences, &c, for growing them properly are at command. The Ixora is 

 as suitable for ordinary decorative purposes, where a high order of this is 

 aimed at, as for exhibition work ; and it is well known that really fine, well- 



