36 
THE FLORIST. 
Cercis siliquastrum can be dwarfed, and bears pot culture well; and 
very interesting it is in this form. I need scarcely allude to the Chi- 
'monanthus, as it is already a general favourite, as are the Sweetbriar 
and Lilac ; but of the latter there are several French varieties, which 
appear much more worthy of cultivation than our Persian or Siberian. 
Having seen them in the Paris markets I can speak of their superiority. 
I believe some of our nurserymen have the best French varieties ; they 
are worth growing extensively, and the culture they get in France may 
perhaps form the subject of another article; this I fear you will find 
already too long, but I think the subject one worth your noticing. 
M. A. S. 
[We think so too; and shall be pleased to insert our correpondent’s 
notes on French Lilac culture.— Ed. Florist, &c.] 
®l)ituac2. 
EDWARD BECK, WORTON COTTAGE, ISLEWORTH. 
We ljttle thought, when urging on our valued friend the Vicar of 
Alford, a request that he would once more pive to the Florist some of 
his excellent aid, that his response should take the form of an obituary 
notice of one whom we know he so highly esteemed, as the subject of 
the present notice. It would ill become us to add anything to the 
very interesting account that he has given of the life and character of 
our deceased friend; all who knew him will appreciate the justice and 
truth of his observations ; but we may say that which his modesty forbids 
him saying himself, that’ the pages of the Florist in those da}'S to which 
he refers owed a great portion of their attractiveness to his own writing; 
page after page bears the evidence of his clear and graphic pen, even 
where his signature appears not, and we very much hope that he will, 
during the present year, give us many communications. No one is 
better able to do so, especially on anything bearing on the science and 
philosophy of gardening. 
Deal. D. 
We are sure of the sympathy of the earlier readers of this periodical, 
when with deep sorrow we anounce that it has pleased God to take 
to himself, on January 15th of this year, at the age of fifty-seven, 
Edward Beck, of Isleworth. He was most extensively known to 
the world as a slate merchant and dealer in building materials; and 
the great waterworks at Hampton, which under three companies supply 
so much of the purest water to the metropolis, were of his construction. 
But the horticultural world owes him a debt of gratitude, not only as 
one of the most successful raisers of Pelargoniums in the kingdom, and 
long unrivalled as an exhibitor, but for higher deeds, as one who at a 
very considerable pecuniary sacrifice to himself, which he had counted 
