Plate 488. 
CYCLAMEN PERSICUM GIGANTEUM. 
We may well ask, in looking at the results of the increased 
attention that has been given to the growth of the Cyclamen, 
what shall we see next? Those of us who can look back 
many years, can remember when small plants with a few flowers 
of the one type were all that we were in the habit of seeing. 
It was always said that to increase them was a matter of 
difficulty, and when any change did appear, as we remember to 
have seen many years ago with the Messrs. Henderson of St. 
John’s Wood, the plants, although they would now be passed 
by as unworthy of notice, were then considered remarkable ; 
whereas, now there seems to be no limit to the varieties in 
form, colour, and size. 
Amongst those who have helped to bring the Cyclamen to 
its present state of perfection, the name of Mr. Wiggins, the 
intelligent gardener of Mr. Beck, Worton Cottage, Isleworth, 
must ever hold a prominent place ; for he not only demonstrated 
that the Cyclamen was capable of this improvement, but that 
it could be brought to pass in a remarkably short space of time ; 
that from seed sown in the Spring in one year, he was enabled to 
produce plants of considerable size, with a dozen or more blooms, 
in the following one ; and indeed, some persons now recommend 
that they should be almost treated as annuals, and sown from 
year to year. All this is effected by keeping the cor ms in a 
growing state, giving them a light rich soil and generous 
treatment. 
