564 
CONIFEROUS TLANTS. 
that there was some advantage that would go 
to those who did follow; and so twenty people 
who have something to sell go where is per- 
haps not a customer for one. 
It is now very notorious that there are 
several complete cliques endeavouring to serve 
themselves at the expense of the rest, and each 
of them following the dogmas of particular 
publications, not one of which has a ray of 
independence, or can give a disinterested 
opinion. The public arc naturally suspicious 
of any good-natured thing that is ^ said for a 
man who is prominent in support of the source 
whence that opinion comes. Suppose John 
Nokes lias a publication, and his friend Thomas 
Styles is a contributor, what man of common 
sense would pin his faith upon any opinion 
John may give of Thomas's flower? It is 
contrary to reason that such an opinion should 
have any more weight than Thomas's recom- 
mendation of the flower in his own catalogue. 
It may seem that we are carping at nothing ; 
but we can assure florists, both amateur and 
professional, that there is not the slightest 
dependence on the opinion of any man who 
cares one jot whom he pleases or offends 
by that opinion. We have been subject to 
remonstrances and complaints time after time 
for our opinions. This very year, friends who 
have done much and could do much more for 
us, are so offended that even advertisements 
have been, in their anger, countermanded, be- 
cause we have not noticed flowers that they 
think a good deal of, or have not noticed them 
in the way they expected and required. To 
us, such complaints are not even sources of 
regret; we know we have done right ; and 
however much it may temporarily displease in- 
dividuals, it is the only thing that has made our 
opinions an authority, while those of other 
men, quite as competent, pass for nothing. He 
who wavers is lost ; he who even tries to please 
every body cannot be respected, nor loved, 
nor feared. We feel now more than ever the 
necessity of counteracting the separate influ- 
ences of separate interests ; we do not mean 
by noticing the sayings and doings of the 
little cabals which are kept together by the 
supposed power of print and paper, but by 
giving our own opinions so prominently as 
to be known to the whole gardening com- 
munity, and leaving others to contradict them. 
But we strongly recommend dealers to abstain 
irom identifying themselves with any publi- 
cation except in advertisements, which de- 
partment is open to all persons, and they 
may depend on the public confidence far 
more than when they are parties to a supposed 
dictation. If Mr. Brown or Mr. Smith were 
always figuring in a Journal of ours, with hints 
about culture, or accounts of something else, 
how worthless w T ould be our opinion on the 
good qualities of the flowers Mr. Smith or 
Mr. Brown might have to sell. It is not 
enough to be honest — we ought to seem honest; 
and a favourable opinion given for a man who 
is always figuring in a work, does not, to ordi- 
nary men, seem honest, whether it be or not. 
Floriculture has suffered materially from 
declining confidence, from the various tricks 
resorted to for the purpose of forcing a trade 
in second-rate things at first-rate prices, by 
the indifference of some leading men and the 
withdrawal of others, from the sadly misma- 
naged department of censorship in too many 
floral societies, and not least, though last, from 
the general depression of trade, which forced 
upon thousands the necessity of abstaining 
from allexpensesthat procured merelyluxuries. 
But now is the time for its regeneration : none 
of the evils are incurable; confidence may be 
restored, by the mere abstinence of florists 
from anything that shall savour of jobbing or 
favouritism, — by submitting their novelties to 
some proper authority, — by the appointment 
of proper judges at floral societies, —by adver- 
tising all floral meetings the instant they are 
appointed, that there may not be several im- 
portant shows on the same day, — and the 
promotion of the science would be more effec- 
tually accomplished if florists would endeavour 
to force the sale of really good things, be they 
where they may; for the more an amateur is 
gratified, the more he will go a-head, while 
every disappointment disgusts him. The esta- 
blishment of second-class dahlias this season 
has done more for that branch of trade than 
any other means that could be thought of; and 
the buyers may, for the most part, understand 
that a second-class prize at Shacklewell, Bir- 
mingham, or Slough, was equal to the first 
class at the rest of the shows. A certificate 
at all is an acknowledgment that the flower is 
an acquisition, and a first class was an ad- 
mission that the flower was as good as any we 
have in the same class, and better than some. 
We believe the best varieties that were known 
and shown may be comprised in a dozen and- 
a-half ; and the Central Dahlia Show on the 
19th of September next will depend on the 
new flowers for their main feature. A class 
for the best six new show flowers with twenty- 
four prizes, and a shilling entrance, will invite 
every young florist to competition; and a simi- 
lar class for the best six new fancy flowers will 
encourage that rapidly improving section, and 
the more especially as they are by far the gayest 
as garden ornaments, and are yearly becoming 
more worthy of general support. — G. G. 
CONIFEROUS PLANTS. 
Callitris, Ventenat (the Callitris). — De- 
rivation from the Greek kalos, beautiful, in 
