THE FLORIST. 
27 
but like good seed sown on stony ground, it languished for want of 
support, or rather, maybe, for want of spirited management. 
That the Florist, however, will be conducted both with energy 
and with propriety, Mr. Beck’s name is a sufficient guarantee. 
Though the actual editors are veiled in a little allowable editorial 
mystery, doubtless such a leader as Mr. Beck will take care that 
they are men of “ mark and likelihood.” It is not, however, to the 
unaided abilities and energies of one or two individuals that florists 
should rest contented to entrust the efficiency and success of such a 
work as this, which will truly be constituted their own peculiar organ. 
With due respect to the talent officially engaged, I would urge 
florists to bestir their own selves. With a true esprit du corps, let 
them unite as one man, and command success,—ensure the produc¬ 
tion of a work worthy of themselves, and of the art they uphold and 
delight in. 
Every florist worthy of the name either does or ought to aim at 
raising seedlings, which are an improvement on older varieties : in 
this, indeed, lies the chief and true secret of delight in floriculture. 
To such an one this work is a ready and the purposely constituted 
medium to receive his observations and detail of success ; and further, 
of securing to himself honour and reward,—reward the more grateful 
to a well-ordered mind because of its affording at the same time new 
pleasure and delight to others. 
It would appear that, though subjects of general interest to the 
floriculturist will be fully recorded in this work, yet its chief and 
most important feature will be the encouragement of new and im¬ 
proved varieties of flowers. This is just as it should be ; for herein 
lies the “be all and the end all” of the florist’s labours. For it is 
unquestionable that certain flowers, viz. “florists’ flowers,” have 
been left unperfected by Nature ; or, more properly speaking, have 
been endowed with a susceptibility of development. The science of 
the florist seeks to bring out these tendencies ; the results being 
expansion and roundness of form, and regularity, order, and diver¬ 
sity of colour. How aptly has the genius of Shakspeare depicted 
this in the Winter's Tale: 
Per. The fairest flowers of the season 
Are our carnations and streak’d gilly-flowers, 
Which some call Nature’s bastards; of that kind 
Our rustic garden’s barren, and I care not 
To get slips of them. 
Pol. Wherefore, gentle maiden. 
Do you neglect them ? 
Per. Because I’ve heard it said, 
There is an art which, in their piedness, shares 
With great creating Nature. 
Pol. Say there be ; 
Yet Nature is made better by no mean, 
But Nature made that mean: so o’er that art 
Which you say adds to Nature, is an art 
That Nature makes. .. 
. This is an art 
Which does mend Nature ,—change it rather ; but 
The art itself is Nature. 
