FLORICULTURE OF THE PAST TEAR. 
densely crowded houses ; but those who could 
and did grow both well were driven from tbeir 
plots of ground, and, comparatively, both 
flowers are neglected, although the Auricula is 
the most delicate, and the Ranunculus the most 
perfect, of all our pets. Floriculture has suf- 
fered more from evicted tenants of gardens 
being forced to discontinue growing, than any 
body not well acquainted with the gardens of 
Bethnal-green could imagine ; thousands of 
growers have no longer a rod of ground to 
cultivate, and to growers of that class we 
owe many of our most beautiful varieties 
of florists' flowers. Those who grow flowers 
now must get further from London, and they 
comprise a higher if not better class than the 
humble mechanics and artisans whose industry 
and perseverance accomplished so much in the 
earlier days of floriculture. The Geranium is 
of later adoption as a florist's flower. Its pro- 
perties were little understood until the publi- 
cation of the particulars a few years since ; 
brilliancy of colour was the only point looked 
after ; shape was altogether lost sight of, and 
the notion of the bloom being round was not 
thought of ; but now that the properties of 
flowers are in every body's hands, other works 
go elaborately into the subject, giving the same 
points over again, as if they had never been 
mentioned; but inasmuch as none of them con- 
tradict the original, we shall leave the ques- 
tion of dates .to speak for themselves. We are 
not quite sure that the world is any wiser for 
these repetitions, but that is not our business. 
We shall give alist of useful new varieties which 
may guide those who do not judge for them- 
selves, but they are not all we require for a 
good Geranium as yet. The Pink gi-owers are 
very much divided in opinion as to the merits 
of two new ones that have made considerable 
noise — Turner's X Y Z, and Read's Jenny 
Lind. We could settle the merits of these two 
candidates in a few words, but as both are 
good enough to demand a place in every exhi- 
bitor's collection, no grower of any pretensions 
will fail to obtain both ; they are not alike, and 
both will, if well grown, help a stand. These 
things would be all better understood if there 
were social meetings of the persons interested, 
where the flowers could be seen and talked of; 
and we are not sorry that such meetings are 
contemplated, for there is as much pleasure in 
talking of flowers as there is in growing them, 
or nearly so; besides which, we can enjoy the 
conversation in the evening as much as we 
enjoy the culture by daylight. The great nur- 
series of the science were the numerous societies 
of humble but enthusiastic amateurs who con- 
gregated to club small sums for prizes once 
a-year; but, from the cause already mentioned, 
these are for the most part discontinued. An 
attempt has been made to get up a society for 
conversational purposes, under the pretence of 
promoting floriculture by judging flowers and 
deciding as to their merits, but a more inconsi- 
derate thing was never attempted, nor one that 
more completely defeats itself. We have re- 
peatedly said that amateurs have no confidence 
in such affairs, unless judges are appointed and 
their names advertised. Say, for instance, a 
dozen raisers and dealers meet to give one 
another's flowers certificates of merit ; what is 
the value of such a character to a flower ? We 
are careful not to say airything offensive, but 
which of the raisers and dealers have not put 
forth, strongly recommended and highly des- 
cribed flow r ers, that have turned out worthless? 
Nay, which of them have not done it repeat- 
edly ? However, as the " London Floricultural 
Society" have taken upon themselves to give 
one another certificates, it is our duty to report 
matters as they stand; therefore we give the 
following as the entire business of the year, 
and the proceedings of all the meetings. 
April 13. — Mr. Cuthill, in the chair. 
First-class certificate for Cineraria Satellite to 
Mr. Atlee. 
May 9. — Mr. Plight in the chair. One 
to Messrs. Bragg & Bright for Pansy D Is- 
raeli. 
June 13. — Mr. George Smith in the chair. 
One to Mr. Black* for Pelargonium, Gipsy's 
Bride; one to Mr. Black for ditto, Constance; 
one to Mr. Black for ditto, Fireball ; one to 
Messrs. Bragg & Bright for Pansy, Hero. 
July 1 1 . — Dr. Bushell in the chair. One 
to Mr. Black for Pelargonium, Ondine ; one 
to Mr. Gaines for ditto, Melearjer ; one to Mr. 
Gaines for ditto, Virgil; one to Messrs. Bragg 
& Bright for Pansy, Colossus; one to Mr. 
G. Smith for Verbena, Beauty of Hornsey ; 
one to Mr. G, Smith for ditto, Advancer ; one 
to Mr. G. Smith for ditto, Napier. 
August 8. — Mr. James Dickson in the 
chair. One to Mr. Stein for Dahlia, Nymph; 
one to Mr. Hunt for ditto, Gen. Cavaignac. 
August 22. — Mr. Kendall in the chair. 
One to Dr. Bushell for a Dahlia, The Duchess. 
September 5. — Dr. Bushell in the chair. 
One to Messrs. Bragg & Bright for Dahlia, 
Othello ; one to Messrs. Bragg & Bright for 
ditto, Gen. Vyse ; one to Messrs. Bragg & 
Bright for ditto, Horatio; one to Mr. Keynes 
for ditto, Bainbow ; one to Mr. Keynes for 
ditto, Sunbeam; one to Mr. Long for ditto, 
Eai-l Clarendon; one to Mr. G. Smith for 
Fuchsia, Lord Nelson ; one to Mi*. Back for 
Petunia, Minerva. 
September 18.— Mr. James Dickson in the 
chair. One to Mr. Barker for Verbena, Ju- 
nius ; one to Mr. Barker for ditto, Miss Thur- 
* Mr. Black is gardener to E. Forster, Esq., of Clever, 
whose flowers are let out by Messrs. Bragg & Bright. 
