238 
THE FLORIST. 
list mislead our readers, to the prejudice of other first-rate varieties. 
It must be remembered that the above may be of earlier characters, 
or in many growers’ hands, whereas Criterion (Maclean) ; Narbo- 
rough Buck, Goliath (Hellyer); King of Purples, Bob Tickler, 
Lord J. Russell, Kentish Hero, Hero (Young); Merry Monarch 
(Norman) ; Mrs. Fry (Walters) ; Princess Royal (Smith) ; Twyford 
Rival (Young) ; &c. &c., although in several first-rate as well as 
winning collections, and more than a match for some of their more 
fortunate companions, require another season’s growth and a greater 
distribution before they can be found as frequently amongst the com¬ 
peting collections. 
COTTAGERS’ PRIZES AT HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 
Generally these are offered for vegetables or fruit, and but little, 
if any, encouragement is given to the production of flowers. Yet 
this, in my opinion, is most desirable. What is more refreshing to 
the eye when walking, than to see the nicely kept and prettily stocked 
garden of the cottager, with its various flowers ! How it raises one’s 
opinion of the inmates ! How desirable to induce the working-man 
to attend to his little plot, and desert the beer-shop and skittle- 
ground ! Whilst it is true that he has but little leisure time, yet it is 
often found that he encourages his family to take a pride in his 
favourite flowers, and thus a taste is generated that is hardly ever 
effaced, and which shews itself on many a window-sill in our crowded 
cities. The cultivation of flowers is not sufficiently attended to by some 
cottagers near our large towns. I believe that bouquets of the sim¬ 
plest varieties would meet with a ready sale, if nicely made up at a 
small price, and offered fresh from the garden. Some of the more 
influential readers of The Florist may perhaps suggest this to the 
parties alluded to. 
Stamford. A Novice. 
COMPOSTS. 
Now is the time to replenish your heaps of turfy loam, loam, cow- 
dung, peat, &c., that the winter may find you well provided with 
materials for exposure to its frosts. Prepare also, for the renovation 
of your flower-borders and beds, such composts as shall be requisite 
to restore or replace their exhausted soil. All gardening operations 
require forethought. What a pitiable object is a gardener or ama¬ 
teur looking about for materials at the moment he requires them for 
use! Mentor. 
