JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
128 
[ August 11, 1881. 
Sandy. To “take a rise ” cut of the doctor he would walk round 
with him and listen to his praise of his beauties, and when they 
had finished Sandy would take the trusses gathered by the doctor 
one by one and point out that not one was fit to look at. I 
once was one of the party, when s«mething like the following 
passed between them :—“ Noo jist look at that; hoo can ye ca’ 
that ‘ first-class,’ man ? it's preen-e’ed.” “ Pin—what ?” “ Preen- 
e’ed.” “ I see neither eyes nor pins, and I don’t want lessons 
in millinery. Where’s the pin ? ” “ That’s hit, richt i’ the 
middle.” “ That a pin ! that’s the pistil.” “ That a pistol!—it’s 
a preen.” “Pin be hanged!” “Pistol be hanged ! ” “Well, 
well, you florists never give in, so I must; but there is no pin in 
that one.” “ No, but it’s no roond.” “ Is it square 1 ” “ It’s 
neither roond, square, nor oval; it’s a perfect fricht.” “Oh, get 
out now, that’ll do.” Such is a fair example of the never-ending 
bickerings between the good doctor and his florist friend ; and 
such, in other words, is the gist of the dispute that has ever 
reigned since florists began to “ improve” and to teach. 
Fcr a shilling anyone can buy a packet of Polyanthus, or 
Auricula, cr Pansy seed, or indeed almost of any florists’ flowers, 
and from that packet raise hundreds, it may be, of beautiful 
flowers. True, a few may be “ pin-eyed,” but the cushion may 
be none the less beautiful. The markings may be less regular, the 
form a little less perfect; instead of perfect smoothness there may 
be undulating edges, and they may not be perfectly “roond ;” 
in a word, they may only be “second-class” flowers in the eyes 
of a genuine florist, but to you they may be all that is fair and 
lovely. Against any imaginary deficiency they may have in 
departing from the recognised standard we may place their 
cheapness, for sixpenceworth of seed will produce as many plants 
as could be bought for £5 of fine kinds ; their strong constitution 
—for seedlings are generally much superior in this respect as 
well as in hardiness to fine named varieties—the profusion of 
flowers they produce as a consequence of their vigour, and the 
comparatively little skill necessary to produce them. These 
recommendations alone ought to commend “second-class ” flowers 
to those who find that their skill or circumstances are not sufficient 
to enable them to succeed with other kinds. 
These remarks apply to every florist flower that we know ; but 
we may also remark that even by such means as we have indi¬ 
cated something approaching “ first-class ” flowers may be suc¬ 
cessfully attempted. When a grower has hundreds of plants 
selection is easy. Plants which have faults may be tossed to the 
rubbish heap) without a pang when we have plenty to fill their 
pvlaces. Then we can save our own seed, and sow in big beds ; 
and when we have thousands of seedlings we can afford to be 
fastidious, and may then make severe selections, and thus go on 
ever reaching higher and higher. Moreover, the raising of plants 
i3 one of the most fascinating pastimes anyone with a love for 
gardening can indulge in. 
There are many ways of producing with ease “second-class” 
flowers other than by raising plants from seed. It often happens 
that named kinds possessing a vigorous habit maybe had cheaply, 
and their culture successfully attempted, for often plants are dear 
simply because they are scarce, and scarce because they have poor 
constitutions. Those who have time and skill and an abundance of 
necessary appliances may go on nursing and coaxing small puny 
plants which produce particularly prized blooms ; but we do not 
write for those who can afford to do all this, and so we advise 
them to avoid puny-growing plants of all kinds. It is very 
common at an exhibition of Pansies, Roses, or Carnations to see 
enthusiastic but unskilful amateurs takiug the names of the most 
exquisite blooms ; afterwards ordering, receiving, and planting 
the kinds, from which equally fine blooms are expected, but which 
only bring disappointment. Good constitution is being more 
insisted on row when plants, flowers, or fruits arc presented for 
certificates ; but even yet flowers and fruits are too often certifi¬ 
cated on the presentation of an insufficient number of examples. 
So far as true florists are concerned the evil is perhaps not great, 
for they generally know what they are doing, but it is very diffe¬ 
rent in the case of the general public. It is not every lover of 
flowers who has time enough, but those who have would consult 
their own interests by selecting their plants from the growers and 
choosing only those in robust health. Satisfaction instead of dis¬ 
appointment would then be the result, for most likely the grower 
would reap what he had sown. 
Not only by these means may “second-class” flowers be made 
to prove satisfactory, but it would be well for unskilled growers 
to substitute hardy plants for tender and balf-hardy ones, and 
robust growers for weakly kinds that are in the habit of dying 
out when extra hard winters visit us. A mere fraction of the 
expense, to say nothing of trouble required to make a display 
of Hollyhocks, which sometimes under adverse circumstances 
disappear altogether, will produce an extravagant display of Fox¬ 
gloves, which are, we think, even more beautiful than Hollyhocks, 
and when once possessed of a good strain it is difficult to get rid 
of it : with Hollyhocks it is difficult to keep it. In districts 
wheie Pelargoniums and Calceolarias do badly, Violas of in¬ 
numerable shades often prove greatly superior. For a dark 
crimson bedder in a cool moist climate we find that Dianthus 
Napoleon III. is veiy much mere effective than any bedding 
Pelargonium whatever, that it strikes like a weed in September, 
and no frost—not even 3G°—injures it. In our northern climate we 
are greatly adding to the quantity of the flowers and the effective¬ 
ness of the beds by dropping tender plants as fast as substitutes 
can be found. Aiabis alnina variegata makes as beautiful a bed 
and a better edging, and it is more compact than any variegated 
Pelargonium, while it is “ in form ” two months longer than Pelar¬ 
goniums in the nature of things can be, while no glass, not even a 
frame, is needed to protect it. Dactylis glomerata variegata 
surpasses in elegance and effectiveness any other variegated plant, 
and Cerastium tomentesum is notyet equalled. Saponariacalabrica 
on rich soil thinly sown surpasses by far the best bed of Christine 
Pelargonium ever seen. But what need is there to multiply in¬ 
stances 1 Lists we need not, they have been published in plenty. 
What we have named are common and are ranked as “second 
class,” but they are not so. It is only fashion, and sometimes 
want of knowledge, which have put plants not so good as they 
before them. Slowly but surely we are finding our way back to 
simplicity and profusion. SIowly r but surely we are finding out 
that lovely and loveable flowers may be had in abundance, even 
though they may be such as florists name “ second class,” and 
such as floral committees would refuse to certificate.— Single- 
handed. 
DOMESTIC FLORICULTURE. 
Variods agencies are established for promoting a love of flowers 
and encouraging a taste for gardening pursuits among the industrial 
classes—thebiain and muscle-working population of our land. For 
the purpose of reporting progress and inciting to further effort in this 
laudable direction flower shows—domestic shows—are periodically 
held in different districts of London and other large populous centres. 
One of the prettiest shows of this nature, inaugurated and conducted 
under somewhat exceptional circnmstances, was held in Shaftesbury 
Park last Saturday. 
Let no one associate the idea with any nobleman’s park, where the 
deer gambol and ancestral trees spread their tinted shadows on the 
grass. No ; Shaftesbury Park is a suburb of London, a sort of model 
village that was opened by the late Lord Beaconsfield a few years 
ago, and was named in honour of Lord Shaftesbury, who has laboured 
so long and so well in the establishment of happy homes for working 
people. Shaftesbury Park, then, is a park of bricks and mortar, yet 
of trees and gardens ; the latter exceeding a thousand in number. 
The character of the gardening on this estate was described in the 
issue of this Journal of October 11th, 1877 ; and it was stated there 
that p>rizes used to be offered for well-kept gardens, but the practice 
had fallen in abeyance, and much of the floral brightness of the 
district departed. 
By a rather singular coincidence the representatives of three horti¬ 
cultural papers eventually either settled on the estate or near it. 
These individuals determined to do something to foster domestic 
floriculture, and they took an active part in establishing a Garden 
Improvement Society. They knew also of others who are earnest in 
the desire the promoters had in view, and valuable aid was secured. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., consented to become President; the 
Royal Horticultural Society’s medal was obtained as the “ Champion 
Prize ;” funds were collected, a show projected, and rules framed. 
For the Show, collections of plants and flowers were generously 
supplied by Messrs. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea ; Turner, Slough ; Osborn, 
Fulham ; Laing A Co., Forest Hill; Cannell & Sons, Swanley ; Ware, 
Tottenham ; Neal & Sons, Wandsworth ; and Roger, Battersea Park. 
Splendid Liliums were also kindly sent by Mr. G. F. Wilson ; Gladio¬ 
luses, Ac., by Mr. J. C. Stevens ; and a substantial gift from Mr. James 
McIntosh. In orthodox language it would be said these contribu¬ 
tions added greatly to the effect of the Exhibition ; but the fact is, 
they made it, and it is certain that no floral display in the district has 
ever equalled the one in question. 
Prizes were given for garden and window plants. These consisted 
of nearly a hundred articles of ornament and utility, ranging in value 
from £1 downwards ; also pottery ware from Mr. Matthews ; wire- 
work from Mr. Thomas, and gardening books from various donors. 
Some of the gardens were marvellous examples of what may be done 
in a small space where taste and industry are combined and find 
expression. The question of economising space and rendering plain 
articles of utility ornamental about reached its climax in the case 
of the man who made his dust-bin a work of art, painted neatly, the 
lid being converted into a box for growing Mustard and Cress ; yet 
even this worthy individual did not win the champion prize. 
It may perhaps be well to dismiss the plants with the remark that, 
creditable as some of them were, it is to be hoped they will be better 
