G 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
tion. I would, however, wish to have it understood that, however closely such 
directions as I may give are followed, the production of really good plants or 
flowers will, and must, depend more on the care and genius of the cultivator 
than on any directions he may receive—in the same way that a student may 
be taught the art of painting or sculpture, but nothing but an inborn genius 
can produce that finish, truth, and life-like expression on which the fame of 
the artist rests. If this fact is borne in mind there will be less of the too 
frequent complaint, that after having received directions, so little has actually 
been learnt from them. 
Generally speaking, very few gardeners have the opportunity or even the 
desire of testing a very large number of sorts; but good growers generally 
manage to acquire those most suitable for their purpose. This applies more 
particularly to gardeners who grow for exhibition, and who, as regards the 
large-flowering sorts, divide them into two classes—that is, such as produce 
the most compact and best-incurved flowers, when grown with that view, and 
such as are capable of being grown into the best specimen plants; and, though 
some of the latter produce reflexed flowers, as Christine, Annie Salter, or Julie 
Lagravere, there are others, as Plutus, White Defiance, or Rifleman, that 
give flowers of the best description for showing as cut blooms. A little 
practical acquaintance will enable any one to discover varieties of the most 
compact and bushy habit. I will do my best to assist the beginner in selecting 
sorts for whatever purpose he may desire; but in the first place I think it best 
to have a word to say respecting the culture of them. 
My own practice, as a grower for exhibition, has been very limited. I 
have, however, found that, for making good specimens, the following are 
excellent:—Among White ones, Vesta and White Defiance are very good, also 
Lady St. Clair ; Yellow, Annie Salter, Chevalier Domage, Sulphurea Superba, 
Plutus, and Little Harry ; Christine, which is described as a peach colour, and 
the golden variety of the same, are both good. Among Dark varieties I have 
generally managed well with Julie Lagravere, Insignis, Madame Commerson, 
and Rifleman, besides an old sort, which, I think, is quite out of date now, 
called Due de Conegliano, as near as I can recollect. 
The process of raising plants with the object of growing good specimens 
has been often described. That, however, is no reason why I should not give 
an epitome of my own practice, which is to take the strongest offsets while 
the old plants are in bloom. These may, or may not, have a little root to them. 
I put three or four of these round a small pot, using any tolerably good loamy 
soil, well sanded. These are properly labelled; and I would recommend the 
propriety of keeping each sort distinct, in a separate pot, in preference to using 
larger pots, and placing several sorts in one. Having watered the cuttings, 
place them in a cold frame or pit, or in an open shady part of a greenhouse, 
by no means endeavouring to excite them into growth by artificial heat, which 
is a mistake beginners are very apt to fall into. They will strike root in the 
course of the winter, and may be potted-off into three-inch pots in March, 
using rather light loamy soil, and little or no manure. Place them in a frame, 
and shade from the sun until they can bear it without flagging; but do not 
keep them too close, and avoid urging them to grow fast. It often happens 
that they may appear to be stationary at that time of the year, but, the fact is, 
they are busy making roots, which is just what could be wished. When the 
plants have filled the pots full of roots,, pot into six-inch pots, and treat as 
before—that is, expose them to the open air as much as possible, and protec 
only from frost or very heavy rains. When about 6 inches high pinch out the 
tops, and keep the lower part of the stem clear of shoots or offsets. Use in 
this potting rather strong but sandy loam, and a small portion of very rotten 
