THE FLORIST. 
147 
on some fine sun-rising: the white spoke to me of purity; this of 
modesty, and cheerfulness, and health. And now, starting out of 
its longer slumber and rough grave-clothes, is a third hyacinth — 
not of cerulean blue, but the very hue of the common blue-bell of 
the woods. It burst forth on St. Valentine’s day, forestalling 
Spring, and bringing all sorts of sweet associations into my little 
parlour. The shining crocus, the delicate snowdrop, the gay tulip, 
all speak to us in their turn, and tell us of a God of grace, doing 
wonders; a God who gives not only bare necessaries, but all things 
richly to enjoy, and opens many a channel whereby streams of plea¬ 
sure can yet be poured into a sinful fallen world ;—they speak, not 
only of the God of nature, but of God in Christ. “ By Him all 
things consist“ without Him was not any thing made that was 
made.” 
May I add a word of apology for growing bulbs in glasses. I 
know it is said by florists, “ You cannot have the blooms in perfec¬ 
tion but we parlour-gardeners have a special pleasure in seeing 
the usually hidden wonders ; we like some of earth’s secrets given 
up. Ladies are of a proverbially inquisitive turn; and the beautiful 
curves and interlacings of the fine white fibres below are to my eye 
almost as refreshing as the graceful form above. Is it true, Mr. 
Florist, that bulbous roots never come to the same perfection in 
water as in earth ? and how can we get a flower another year from 
bulbs that have blown in water ? Tell us if there is any way of 
husbanding them for another occasion, for some of us are obliged to 
be economical, as I said at the beginning; and I should wish all who 
could enjoy it, to have a parlour-garden better and brighter than 
mine, and to get as much pleasure and still more instruction out of 
it than I have done. M. 
February 25. 
To the Editor of the Florist. 
Sir, —I take a great interest in the success of The Florist , as I am 
sure all must who desire the success of floriculture; but more parti¬ 
cularly those (amongst whom I class myself) who chiefly delight in 
the pleasure derived from raising seedling florists’ flowers. 
At the starting of a work of this kind it is difficult of course to 
meet the wishes and requirements of all subscribers ; and without 
fear, therefore, of being considered obtrusive, I take the liberty of 
suggesting what appears to me an omission in the plan of the work. 
You have no Calendar of Operations.* To an amateur, like myself, 
who personally superintend all the operations of my little garden, 
such a monthly direction would be of great use. 
Having taken up my pen, I shall further take the liberty of sug¬ 
gesting that a paper on the subject of liquid manure will be very 
acceptable; and, excuse me for saying, to be useful it must be very 
minute—specifying the various manures most suitable to the various 
* [This desideratum, it will be seen, has been supplied.— Ed.] 
