332 
THE FLORIST. 
need be, and a beauteous gem it is. Then, again, I have had General 
Castellane, H.P., three or four times, and have always lost it; but at 
my friend Mr. Cattell’s, of Westerham, I have seen fine strong vigorous 
plants of it, and so have the plants been that I have got from him, but 
they have all dwindled away and died here. 
2. They vary much according to the character of the season. —A Rose 
which is indifferent this year, and which you feel inclined to discard, 
astonishes you next year by its beauty; while, on the other hand, one 
that you have thought highly of proves -to be worthless on further trial. 
Thus, last year I had Louise Odier poor and thin in the extreme, very 
little better than the Celine; my idea at one time was to discard it; 
however, I let it alone, and this year it has been very beautiful, full, 
and brilliant in colour. Had I measured, on the other hand, my old 
friend Geant by his performances this year I should have pronounced 
him but a poor leader, for the intense heat completely took away 
all his brilliant colour; and, again, I have grown for some two or three 
years Leon des Combats, but I never saw in it anything remarkable, 
whereas this year it has been especially beautiful. I do not think this 
is sufficiently borne in mind by amateurs ; they do hot wait to prove 
their flowers, aud pronounce them worthless, when another season 
would perhaps make them alter their opionion. 
3. And then there is the insatiable craving for novelties. —Have you 
got any new Roses, is the first question put to a nurseryman; if he 
say no, you at once set him down as behindhand ; if, on the other hand, 
he shows you some, how readily do you overlook many blemishes 
because they are new; you persuade yourself that they must be much 
better than the older varieties; you buy them, and after, when better 
and cooler judgment returns, you find that you have foolishly preferred 
a new to an old face—a fault not confined to Rose growers. 
The subject of sorts I find I must postpone, merely saying for those 
' who are looking out for new kinds, that I do not think Mathurin 
Regnier, Triomphe de I’Exposition, and Triomphe d’Avranches will 
belie their character. 
As to operations for November I have not much to say. The garden 
will generally be required to be cleared off of its old bedding stuff, 
weeds, &c. The greenhouse to be opened every day, and damp care¬ 
fully guarded against. Auriculas will require but little water, and 
plenty of air. Pansies, Picotees, and Carnations to be treated in the 
same way. Chrysanthemums will be in bloom, and keeping up one’s 
interest in flowers ; after blooming they will want to be cut down and 
put into a sheltered place. Turkey Ranunculus and single Anemones 
may now be planted. Herbaceous plants divided, and, if required, 
' some potted. Japan Lilies, and bulbs of all sorts, should be in their 
winter quarters. The garden becomes less inviting every day, but if 
we take care of its delicate inmates they will reward us by and bye 
with an abundant bloom. 
Deal, October 19, 1857- 
D. 
