MARCH. 
87 
tangible in the March number of the Florist, in the shape of a 
meeting this spring, whilst April would be time enough for the final 
arrangements. 
“ Cheltenham, Feh. 4. “ A. J. C.” 
The subject is one surrounded by difficulties which we shall endea¬ 
vour to submit. In the first place, the Auricula is totally unlike any 
of those other florists’ flowers which are honoured by national exhibi¬ 
tions ; they are shown as cut blooms, while it has ever been the custom 
to show the Auricula in pots ; and while a grower could easily send up 
a box of cut blooms of Tulips or Pansies, he would be unwilling to trust 
a dozen of his best Auriculas to the tender mercies (we will say) of the _ 
Eastern Counties Railway, or indeed to the care of any one, however 
experienced, in London, where the show would have to be held. Then 
there is a difficulty as to fixing the time ; for instance, I am writing 
this at the house of my friend, the Rev. George Jeans, Alford Vicarage ; 
his plants will not be in bloom, I see, nearly so early as mine, and 
though the 18th or the 20th of April might suit me, it would not him ; 
and then, unless w^e could tack it on to some of the spring shows of the 
Royal Botanic Society, it would hardly answer, we could not expect to 
take any money by visitors, and to hire a room would be expensive. 
These reasons seem rather like fatal to the project, but still some ideas 
may suggest themselves to the growers of the flower, if these matters 
are put before them. I can say that Mr. Turner will gladly fall into it 
and give two guineas ; Mr. Chapman, the father of Maria and Sophia, 
one guinea ; “ Iota” and myself, one each; and doubtless others would 
be willing to contribute also ; but, after all, the great question is, can the 
flowers be brought together ? As I have mentioned the subject in the 
“ Cottage Gardener,” as well as here, it is just possible some plan may 
be hit upon. If so, any communications, addressed to me at the Florist 
office, will be acceptable ; and should failure altogether ensue, it will, I 
hope, be attributed, not to any lukewarmness on my part, but to the 
difficulties inseparable from the subject. That an interest in this flower 
is being excited, I have very little doubt, from all that I hear on every 
side, and the difficulty of obtaining plants of any scarce variety becomes 
greater every day. If the growers increase in number, the day cannot 
be far distant when we must meet together for mutual profit. 
Feb. 18. D. 
PINKS. 
Having been a florist just forty-three years, and having been a culti¬ 
vator of Pinks and Carnations and other florists’ flowers, I think I may 
fairly be permitted to have a voice and to give my opinion on the pro¬ 
gress of improvement, at least as respects our two former favourites. 
When first I commenced. Pinks were just beginning to be well culti¬ 
vated, and shows were established in various parts of England, when, 
besides those exhibited for the first, second, and third prizes, seedlings 
were also exhibited, and Davy’s Eclipse, Davy’s Duchess of Devon- 
