16 
THE FLORIST. 
ON RAISING SEEDLINGS. 
BY MR. JOHN EDWARDS. 
Generally speaking, dealers in florists’ flowers shew less skill and 
foresight in this department of their trade than in any other. The 
truth of this remark will be supported by many close observers. As 
a body, they are not well qualified to undertake this pursuit, or to 
prosecute it with the attention it absolutely requires. No doubt but 
that “ daily watching the expansion and development of each pro¬ 
mising bud is attended with no little excitementbut, from the 
present mode of saving seed, nurserymen had much better turn their 
attention to any other part of their duties than that of “ raising 
seedlings.” Let us inquire whether the desired aim cannot be 
attained with a greater degree of certainty by simply exercising 
more forethought, and by examining into the cause of their pre¬ 
sent numerous failures. 
Many of the principal cultivators of all the leading florists’ flowers 
are exhibitors; and, for this purpose, they attend or compete at the 
principal exhibitions throughout the country. This is praiseworthy; 
and to say that, for this purpose, they cut their best specimen blooms 
for each occasion would be but to tell an “ oft-told tale.” For 
instance, I would remark that an eminent grower has, in the past 
season, taken thirty-six first prizes, to do which no less than a thou¬ 
sand blooms must have been cut, and, of course, the best that could 
be found in his collection. Now t here is the foundation of future 
disappointment, loss of labour, room, &c. &c., and also of the limited 
progress in the course of improvement. The season now gone, 
when Dahlia shewing was over, and tables, shades, stakes, &c. were 
being collected to lay by for the next year, the proprietor of one 
establishment was walking through his rows of exhausted plants, 
selecting almost indiscriminately a pod of seed here and there. The 
result of this must be general disappointment; for he not only sows 
the seeds of discontent for himself, but distributes them abroad to 
his customers in “choice packets,” at 2s. 6d or 5s .,—if we admit 
that a dealer does sell choice seed at all. The result of this mode 
of obtaining seed may be learnt by the following information. In 
a nursery famed for Pansy-growing, I have seen beds containing 
perhaps not less than ten thousand seedlings. In two or three visits 
I have gone through the greater part of them myself whilst in bloom. 
From this multitude not ten flowers were selected worth propagat¬ 
ing, and not one is now in existence. 
The remedy appears to me simple; and if the suggestions here 
offered are adopted, I have little doubt but that a foundation will be 
laid for a much greater amount of success than has hitherto at¬ 
tended seedling raising, and win the assent of those who now assert 
that “ lately no improvement has taken place in seedling florists’ 
flowers.” 
