THE FLORIST. 
329 
CONCLUSION. 
Our first year’s Miscellany is here brought to a close; and we are 
spared all retrospective comments of our own by the following letter 
of our kind correspondent Dr. Horner, which we will introduce with 
a few questions addressed to the readers of the work. Are you doing 
all yon can to promote its circulation ? Are you ready to help the 
common stock by any information you may possess ? If so, you 
will have your reward in seeing the work improve as it advances. If 
you are not, you will see its conclusion in December 1849. 
To the Editor of the Florist. 
As the first volume of The Florist is now completed, a fitting op¬ 
portunity is afforded for its readers to weigh it in the balances ; 
and to consider how far those expectations have been realised, and 
those engagements fulfilled, which its promoters at first set forth. 
Having impartially weighed over these things in my own mind, I 
venture to lay the result before you; and I do so the more freely, 
inasmuch as, on the first appearance of the work, I addressed you a 
letter, wherein I stated what I conceived were its just and legitimate 
aim and purpose, and what its duties to the floricultural public; 
and, on the other hand, what ought to be the conduct and endeavour 
of florists themselves, in respect to such a responsible undertaking. 
Let me consider, then, how far The Florist and its readers have 
fulfilled these duties respectively, and towards each other. 
Having, through the courtesy of Mr. Beck, been favoured with 
the perusal of the original document, whereby the work was at first 
established, and its objects set forth, I can bear record to the praise¬ 
worthy uprightness and singleness of its purpose. No self-seeking, 
no self-emolument or advantage; nothing, indeed, of self, save self¬ 
responsibility, anxiety, and labour. In a w’ord, the advancement of 
floriculture and the advantage and good of florists were the work’s 
sole end and aim. Knowing, and being deeply impressed with these 
facts, and seeing the great pecuniary and other responsibilities in¬ 
curred for the good of others and of the art itself, your readers might 
now see why I was so earnest in my appeal to them, to give their 
support in a manner worthy of themselves and of their work. 
That there was a necessity, or call, for such a work must at 
once be freely admitted. Hitherto, the position of the florist w'as 
an anomaly in these onward times of enlightenment, in which every 
class and section of society has its peculiar magazine or miscellany, 
while he had no illustrated work, or organ, in which to shew to the 
floral public, in his new and improved varieties of flowers, the re¬ 
sult of his labour and diligence, and whereby the former might be 
gratified, and himself reap honour or reward : The Florist, there- 
NO. XII. A A 
