SEPTEMBER. 
207 
that when shown on the occasion above referred to, it was at once rewarded 
by a first-class certificate. It is not a new plant, having been grown many 
years ago, but it has been lost, and is now again introduced by the Messrs. 
Backhouse. We refer to an article at p. 208, for general instructions as to 
its treatment. M. 
WHITE LILACS FOR WINTER. 
The White Lilacs of the Paris flower markets have long been famous, 
not only on account of then* delicacy, but also the profusion in which they 
are produced. The following remarks, from a correspondent in Paris, will 
explain how they are obtained :— 
If there be one flower more than another indispensable to the Paris 
flower market in winter and early spring, it is the white blossoms of the 
Lilac. Large bunches of it may be seen in every flower-shop as early as 
the month of January, and it is always associated with the early Yiolet 
and the forced Rose. This Lilac is the common kind, and yet it is pro¬ 
duced perfectly white. The French florists have tried the white variety, 
but they do not like it—it pushes weakly, and then does not look of so 
pure a colour as the ordinary kind, which in its normal state bears lilac- 
coloured flowers. They force this common Lilac in great quantities in pots, 
and to a greater extent planted out, as close as the plants can be stood, in 
pits, for the purpose of furnishing flowers for cutting. 
The plants that are intended for forcing are cut round with a spade in 
September, to induce them to form flower-buds freely ; and they commence 
to force early in the autumn. They at first judiciously introduce them to 
a cool house, but after a little while, they give them plenty of heat,'and 
when once they are fairly started they get from 25° to nearly 40° C. {say 
from 77° to 100° Fain*.]. At the same time abundant humidity is supplied, 
both at the root and by means of the syringe ; but the chief point is, that 
from the day the plants are put under glass, they are not allowed to receive 
a gleam of light, the glass being completely covered with the paillassons, 
which are the neat straw mats so much used here for covering frames, pits, 
and all sorts of garden structures in winter. Thus the Lilac is made to 
push freely, and its white blooms are gathered before the leaves have had 
time to show themselves. The great degree of heat—a degree which we 
never think of giving to anything of the kind in England, and the total 
shade to which they are subjected, effect the bleaching. 
The French commence to cut White Lilac about the end of October, and 
continue to do so till Lilac blossoms come in in the open ground. 
W. R. 
NOVELTIES, &c., AT FLOWER SHOWS. 
The great Rose Show at South Kensington offered an occasion for a 
meeting of the Floral Committee, when first-class certificates were distri¬ 
buted as follows :—To Messrs. Yeitch & Sons, Chelsea, for Croton irregulare, 
C. maximum, and C. interruptum, three valuable new stove shrubs, with varie¬ 
gated foliage ; also for Dracana Moorei, a fine species with broad brownish-red 
leaves ; for Selaginella Poulteri , a slender hybrid Club Moss of garden origin; 
for Begonia Veitchii , a showy dwarf hardy species from Peru, with orange- 
coloured flowers; and for two handsome varieties of Gloxinia, named Madame 
