358 
FLORICULTURE. 
.as screens only, and efifectually do tliey obstruct the in gaze of passers-by. But how do they 
live and thrive f The aspect is north, and the traffic of the road prodigious. I have 
written enough perhaps, to excite curiosity and reflection ; and if so, the reader's mind 
will not be unprofitably employed. 
FLORICULTURE. 
By John DicJcson, Acre Lane, Brixton. 
Pelargoniums. — There is no race of flowers that aflbrds more extensive gratification 
than the Pelargonium. Every rank in society appears to entertain nearly equal admira- 
tion for these lovely flowers ; and whether we trace this idolatry in the humble artisan's 
wife, who positively worships the trusses of scarlet bloom as they display themselves above 
the horse-shoe foliage of her pet, and perchance only plant, or regard its effects through all 
the grades of life in which flowers are loved — (and where are they not ? ) — the same intense 
devotion to their beauty will be found to exist. Where localities are not favourable to 
their cultivation, they will be found in profusion, cut, and placed with care in damp sand, 
thus exhibiting their beauties to many an admiring eye, at once relieving the sombre hue of 
apartments otherwise objectionable, and offering pleasure to the possessor beyond descrip- 
tion. These innocent recreations multiply rather than diminish, as the love of flowers 
assumes a higher tone. Let the owners of collections speak their praise, and language will 
be found weak to express the gratification derivable from so fertile a source. But if we 
wish to listen to impassioned eloquence, springing from nature's fount, then for a moment 
listen to the amateur florist, as he expatiates on the treasures in his possession. Mark 
with what taste (nature's own gift) he points out beauties, describes tints, and pourtrays 
forms to his less enthusiastic friend, till the ardour becomes contagious, and, from being 
merely an admirer of others' possessions, the spectator becomes a cultivator of nature's 
choicest gifts, and revels in pleasures innocent and refined as those which await this exten- 
sion of Flora's kingdom. Variety spreads her tempting snares, and the amateur florist is 
lost in the contemplation of such immense prodigality. Selecting, after much consideration, 
one class of florist's flowers, the cultivator soon wishes for another. Possession in floral 
life never cloys, nor does continued observation satiate the keen desire for still further 
enjoyment ; and thus it is, Floriculture becomes the absorbing passion of thousands, differing, 
perchance, on minor points, but agreed in one — gratitude to the Giver of all for pleasures 
that are perchance destined to survive the grave. The love of flowers is born with us, in 
my belief, and, when circumstances tend to foster the infant passion, it becomes gigantic in 
its maturity. And it is well that such should be the case, as improvement in our floral 
statistics is by this means secured, and the few accomplish wonders for the many. Flowers 
have ever been favourite types of elevated feelings, as well as unerring marks of refined 
sentiment and natural taste. We are told by Dr. Fielder that the Greeks held Bacchus as 
the god of flowers as well as trees and of the vine. He dwelt, according to their represen- 
tations, occasionally in Phyllis, the laud of flowers, sometimes on the rose-decked Pangoeon, 
and often in the rose-decked gardens of Macedonia and Thrace, from thence deriving the 
name Anthios, the flowery. Previous to his being decked with flowers, ivy crowned his 
head. Venus is said to have crowned him on his return from India. He took the chaplet 
that Ariadne, in Naxos, had woven from the Tlieseion, and, walking beneath the sky at 
night, threw it up to the stars, where it yet shines forth. Many are the beautiful tales 
identified with flowers ; and perhaps were my less classic mythological acquirements brought 
to bear on the subject, I should be inclined to reverse the picture, and portray the chaplet 
of old, as thrown earthward by some benignant being, and, shining forth among the brilliant 
gems of earth, rivalling in number and beauty the glittering spangles of night. But to pro- 
ceed with the business on which I set out — the cultivation of the Pelargonium. It will be 
requisite to commence with the soil most proper for the purpose. This should always be 
in readiness. Turfy loam, refuse of the stables in a thoroughly decomposed state, cow-dung 
