THE 
FLORIST, FRUITIST, AND GARDEN 
MISCELLANY. 
L ■ E N V 0 I. 
In looking back at the announcement we made at the begin¬ 
ning of last year with regard to our intentions, we can, with 
some degree of confidence, say that the promises we then 
made have been fulfilled; during a season of almost un¬ 
exampled severity, as far as floriculture is concerned, we have 
endeavoured to keep alive the interest of our readers in the 
ever enticing field to which our attention has been devoted. 
This has been no easy matter when flowers were draggled and 
torn, and fruit tasteless and scarce; but we held on our way 
steadily, and owing to the kindliness of our various contributors, 
we have been enabled to place before our friends, from time to 
time, various items of interest, and to give correct and pleasing 
portraits of either new favourites, or older ones revived. And 
now we desire to say a word or two for the future. The year 
1861 will be memorable in the annals of horticulture, inas¬ 
much as it will witness the revival of the Horticultural Society 
in more than its former vigour. It has at last escaped from 
the trammels of red-tapism and exclusiveness, with which it 
was so long bound, and has acknowledged the just claim of 
florists to a share in its favours and rewards. The statement 
of its intended proceedings at Kensington Gore fully attest 
this. A grand flower show is announced for June; a Eose 
show for July; a fruit and cut flower show in September: 
and a Chrysanthemum show in November: that they will 
be a great success we have little doubt, and we hope to 
chronicle them in due course and as the Floral and Fruit 
* The following plan of arrangenaents, &c., is given by the Gar¬ 
deners' Chronicle on authority :— 
In the grand general exhibition in June, when the garden will be formally 
opened, in addition to prizes varying in value from £l to £20 for Orchids, 
Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Roses, general collections, fruit, and other usual 
subjects of competition, we find the following new classes: Dracsenas and 
VOL. XV., NO. CLVII. B 
