508 
FLORICULTURE OF THE MONTH. 
many of which are at present very deficient, 
entitles them to places among the new varie- 
ties that may be adopted safely. We do not 
think there is a single flower that had a certi- 
ficate first or second at the three shows in 
question, but it may be safely purchased at 
the proper value. We are glad to see the 
Dahlia upon the move again, and we think 
the plan to be adopted at the great annual 
show next year is likely to cause many to 
purchase new flowers. One of the principal 
classes is to have twenty prizes for the best 
six new flowers let out in May 1850, and that 
all men may exhibit, the entrance is to be 
nominal — only one shilling. The Birmingham 
Town Hall has been considered by exhibitors 
to be by far the best adapted place for a large 
exhibition, but nothing is decided on at pre- 
sent, except that it will be under the same 
direction as the last. The Shacklewell show 
is to be renewed upon the same scale as the 
last. The Stoke Newington exhibition will 
be continued, and in Bethnal Green and 
Poplar nearly a score of Societies for the Dahlia 
alone are formed or forming. At the meeting 
of florists and amateurs in the town of Bir- 
mingham, consequent upon the central Dahlia 
show, it was unanimously resolved that we 
should take the lead of a garden newspaper ; 
and eighty-four nurserymen, gardeners, and 
amateurs, pledged themselves to support any 
paper that we should conduct. Of course, 
eighty four persons would do very little to- 
wards supporting a newspaper, but such a 
body of persons, comprising the leading florists 
and amateurs, with some influential gardeners, 
form no bad Committee to collect other names ; 
and as far as we have had time to inquire into 
the matter, not a single refusal has been 
given. It may be just mentioned here, that 
having been induced by fallacious promises 
to abandon the Gazette for a newspaper that 
was to support them in old age, the gardeners 
themselves have evinced, as much anxiety as 
anybody to see us at the head of a paper, now 
that the bankruptcy and sale of their own 
journal has opened their eyes to the deception 
that was practised on their credulity by the 
few who alone derived a benefit from the con- 
cern. There is no longer any doubt of our 
resuming our place on a garden newspaper 
that will be second only to the Gardener's 
Chronicle, and so far as we have yet been 
assured at public meetings, those two papers 
will be the only ones supported by the leading 
persons among florists and amateurs. Mean- 
while, until our arrangements are complete, 
those who cannot do without a newspaper will' 
find all the leading advertisers use the Gar- 
dener's Chronicle. When the new one appears, 
the only rivalry will be an endeavour to sur- 
pass it in usefulness. The show of roses at 
the Town Hall, Birmingham, was extensive 
and unique. They were exhibited chiefly by 
Curtis & Co., of Moorend, Bristol, and call 
for especial notice. While in Birmingham we 
fell in with a Fuchsia very little noticed there, 
but quite a gem in its way. It was called 
Roseola, (scarlet outside, purple corolla, and 
sepals prettily reflexed,) and was in many 
hands. Another not yet out, raised by a 
Mr. Stoaks at West Bromwich, was very 
pretty ; the sepals white outside, pinkish 
inside, the corolla a good contrast, and the 
blooms reflexing very gracefully ; but as we 
only saw a bloom, we can say nothing for the 
habit. Antirrhinums have become weeds. 
Scores of scratchy varieties, without any 
striking feature about them, are plentiful as 
blackberries. The style that is valuable 
should present a striking contrast, likePictum, 
by some called Bicolor, but pure white up the 
tube and bright crimson scarlet at the mouth. 
Yellow and scarlet, white and purple, sulphur 
and orange, are all pretty and striking, but 
the hundreds that are now produced with 
merely scratches of different colours on a light 
ground, are worthless. Their character can- 
not be seen at a few feet distance, whereas 
when the two colours are well defined and 
contrasted, they are useful. Of the hundreds 
we have seen. Brilliant (orange and red). 
Surplus (pink and yellow), Diana (salmon 
and yellow), Meadow (blush rose and white), 
and the old Pictum (crimson-scarlet, and 
white), are decidedly the best ; but it is only 
a fine border perennial at the best, and has no 
business in a pot. We venture now to recom- 
mend those Societies which meet early enough, 
to give prizes for the best hyacinths ; for 
although there is no merit in producing the 
flowers, there is more difference as to the 
quality in the hands of different growers than 
any one who has not seen it would believe. 
The management of a hyacinth is a very nice 
affair, and there will be many degrees of 
quality even among the dealers who affect to 
grow them for show. There is not a flower 
produced so truly valuable in close manufac- 
turing towns as the hyacinth. The simple 
means by which the flower can be produced, 
under the most adverse circumstances, entitle 
it to the consideration of everybody who has 
a window. Bulbs in general have this cha- 
racteristic, but there are exceptions, while the 
hyacinth knows none. In reverting once 
more to the Dalilia, we ought to observe that 
if any have escaped us, it may be attributed 
to that false pride which induces men to 
depend on their own recommendation rather 
than submit the blooms to a competent autho- 
rity. All we have seen we shall give a list 
of, together with a notice of their qualities, at 
the close of the year. 
