240 
THE FLORIST. 
tions, we think * (except under very close limitations), they should be 
excluded from mixed collections of plants. 
Having looked narrowly over the principal mixed collections exhibited 
this season, we think that these groups lose much as regards com¬ 
pleteness (and we will say effectiveness too), by containing stove and 
greenhouse plants mixed together. We venture an opinion that one of 
these groups—let it contain 15, 10, or 8 plants—should form a com¬ 
plete whole when viewed together as a collection, and that each plant 
composing it should partake in a greater or less degree of the character 
or habit belonging to the group. Besides this, the plants forming the 
group should possess sufficient diversity of colour that when arranged 
an harmonious effect would be produced ; and further, the plants in 
each group should approximate to some decided form of training. 
It must be obvious that to effect this mixed collections cannot be 
allowed ; such plants as Clerodendron Ksempferi and fallax, Statices, 
and even Allamandas and Ixoras, have no features in common, and 
cannot be made to group effectively with Dillwynias, Dracophyllums, 
Boronias, Leschenaultias, Tetrathecas, &c., and yet they are seen mixed 
together in nearly every collection we pass by. Both classes of plants 
are beautiful in their way, but they only produce an incongruous group 
when placed together. At the Chiswick Exhibition we noticed a plant 
of Vinca rosea in the very fine collection shown by Mr. Dods, and to 
our mind that single plant destroyed the individuality of the group. 
But we would carry our principles even further than this, by excluding 
Azaleas and Eleaths from mixed greeniiouse plants; for we can see no 
difficulty in forming collections of hard-wooded greenhouse plants 
without having recourse to the above, and our objection against 
admitting Azaleas in combination with these latter, is, we think, well 
founded. On this point, why not admit Pelargoniums ? 
Your reade rs will gather from what is here stated that we would 
show each class separately. Collections of plants, as now exhibited, 
although giving unmistakable evidence of the highest skill in cultiva¬ 
tion, are limited as to variety. There is a deal of what may be called 
conventionalism in exhibiting. Some successful growler brings forward 
a plant—common enough, perhaps, and easy to grow—when he is 
followed by all the rest. And, indeed, the collections consist of a mere 
repetition of some dozen plants, varied only by adding Heaths and 
Azaleas, to make up the complement. Supposing, then, this distinction 
really made, and that collections of hard-wooded greenhouse plants in 
12 or 15 varieties, and of stove plants alone in tw^elves or nines, I think 
the groups would present a more satisfactory appearance ; and by 
placing a group of stove plants (many of wdiich have magnificent foliage 
as well as flowers), between each collection of greenhouse plants, the 
appearance of the tents, in our opinion, w’ould be an improvement on 
the indiscriminate mixing wdiich now prevails. Beautiful as is “ the 
bank of Orchids,” which some exhibitors report on so eloquently, we 
are strongly inclined to think that if collections of these were separated 
by a group of Ferns, both would benefit by the contrast, and that 
greater distinctness and individuality would be obtained by the 
arrangement. 
