FLORICULTURE. 
339 
fructification, and developing from the same plastic material the organs essential thereto, 
namely, flowers. These two forces are called into play by different external conditions, 
the vegetative process being excited and maintained by abundance of food, and by liberal 
(not excessive) supplies of moisture, accompanied by a certain degree both of light and 
heat, of which a variable degree is required by different races ; the fructifying process, on 
the other hand, being brought about by a limitation of food and of moisture, accompanied 
by a full exposure to light, and a certain varying degree of heat. 
Are there, then, any races of cultivated plants in which the maturation of the growth 
in the sense contended for in this paper is not desirable ? Decidedly. Maturation or 
ripening beyond that degree which Nature takes care to supply, in order to give due 
strength and solidification to the vegetable tissues, is undesirable in almost the whole race 
of cultivated vegetables ; even those in which the parts of fructification are made use of, 
have, in the majority of instances, those parts so much altered in their nature, as not to 
form real exceptions to the rule. Herbaceous or succulent growth is here the object, and, 
therefore the ripening is inappropriate. In the culture of fruits, on the other hand, 
maturation is, as aforesaid, all-important ; and it is equally so in the culture of orna- 
mental flowering plants, though in the individual application of the agencies conducive 
thereto, almost unlimited variation is necessary. 
FLORICULTURE. 
By John Dickson , Acre Lane , Brixton. 
The Cineraria. — This beautiful race of flowers has been more improved than any other 
I can call to mind, within a comparatively short space of time. The long pointed petal of 
flimsy texture and questionable colour, flat disk and straggling habit of this tribe, are no 
longer its general characteristics ; on the contrary, they may be now recognised by their 
symmetrical proportions, round, broad, smooth petals — many kinds of velvet-like texture 
and consistency — varying in tints and intensity through all the shades of blue, crimson, 
purple, and white, tipped with every colour in the rainbow, with beautifully raised disks, 
splendidly proportioned, forming elegant specimens both in habit and luxuriance of foliage. 
The science of Floriculture may well be proud of its achievements, in contemplating the 
effects of its practice in connexion with the now magnificent Cineraria. Were other reasons 
wanting for its encouragement, they would surely be found in the early and luxuriant 
blooming of this Spring flower, and its comparatively easy cultivation. I have essayed 
several methods with it, some recommended to me by floricultural friends on the other side 
the Channel — some the result of experience of florists near home — adopting for my own 
practice those parts of the system of each which I conceived to be the most likely to facili- 
tate the object I had in view — the improved culture of a flower I fancied well deserving 
the encomiums so liberally bestowed upon it, whenever a good specimen was submitted for 
public approval at any of the Floral Exhibitions. I have therefore no hesitation in giving 
the result of my experience in the matter, fully assured that no party will regret taking in 
hand a race of plants so rich and varied in their properties as the subject of these remarks ; 
neither can any disappointment occur, as the least care in following the plain directions I 
shall have the pleasure of offering, will ensure perfect success, and with it unmeasured 
gratification to every one who delights in floral beauty ; and it must be confessed it would 
be much more difficult to find those who are not than those who are ; the present love for 
flowers being, in my opinion, the strongest proof of the increasing refinement of a class of 
persons who, some years since, were wont to spend their leisure hours in pursuits differing 
widely from so healthy a recreation. Nor does this prevalence of the love of flowers 
deteriorate their value in the eyes of those who do, and ever must (while good order 
prevails), lead the taste of others in such matters. The diamond placed on the hand 
