80 
THE FLORIST. 
have all strong shoots either stopped or removed during summer, and 
roots pruned in autumn, if growing too vigorously. The Plum also- bears 
remarkably well when grown as Pyramids (see Training) which form 
pleasing objects in the fruit-garden. These trees are comparatively but 
little trouble after they are formed. 
About 300 varieties of Plums are in existence, the greater portion of 
which is worthless; if twenty sorts are selected from that number, it 
will include the best, and the following kinds will be sufficient to fur¬ 
nish a supply from the end of July to November. The Blue Gage and 
Wilmot’s Early Orleans are the best early Plums, and should have a 
warm wall aspect, followed by the Victoria, Jefferson, Washington, 
Green Gage, and Kirk’s Plum, for which an east or west aspect is well 
adapted; the Reine Claude Violette, Coe’s Golden Drop, and the Blue 
and Ickworth Imperatrice are sorts that hang a long time on the tree, 
and should have an east or north wall. If we include the Goliath, Old 
Orleans, Damson, and Red and White Magnum Bonum, for kitchen 
uses and preserving, those enumerated will be found sufficient for any 
garden. 
{To be continued in our next.) 
NATIONAL EXHIBITIONS OF 1858. 
We are pleased to find that the first meeting of the National Rose 
Society, first proposed in our columns, promises to be eminently suc¬ 
cessful. We subjoin an article from the Gardeners' Chronicle on the 
subject, and also beg to call the attention of our readers to the list of 
subscriptions published in our present number. 
“ Of the Royal lady who rules these realms it is sung with loyalty 
and truth, that ‘ the throne of our Queen is in Englishmen’s hearts 
and the same high tribute of praise may assuredly be offered to the 
queen of flowers. Old England’s emblem is the Rose, and her sons 
and her daughters love it well. Whether it be that joy of our child¬ 
hood, the wild Dog Rose, rudely plucked from the hedge-row by some 
rustic swain for his sweetheart; or bud of Tea-scented China, daintily 
culled from the conservatory by some graceful Lilia, herself 
* A Rose-bud set with little wilful thorns, 
And sweet as English air can make her 
whether it be the glorious old Cabbage, enthroned in a mug bereft of its 
handle, and adorning some cottage home; or pale Niphetos in some 
gemmed bouquetierj whether it be the tiny Banksioe, in shape no 
bigger than an agate stone on the forefinger of an alderman ; or some 
gorgeous Gallica, ample in circumference as a belle of our modern mode; 
peasant or peeress we love the Rose. Rich or poor—men, women, or 
children, we are prompt to obey old Herrick’s bidding, ‘ Gather ye 
Roses, while ye may.’ 
“ The idea, then, of a ‘Grand National Rose Show’ doth sweetly 
recommend itself to English ears ; and when we are told that the 
Queen of the garden is to hold a court, to which none but they of the 
