February 27 .J 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
329 
forty seeds were saved and raised last year; of these, 
thirty-six were like the parent; one quite as double, of a 
rich purple; one a peach; and two semi-double mottled 
j kinds; and thirteen seeds, saved from a straw-coloured 
| variety, of fine habit, hut not so double, the entire thir¬ 
teen were like the parent, and so like eaeli other, that 
nobody could make a distinction in form of any speci¬ 
men. Of seeds saved from mottled red, mottled purple, 
, mottled peach colour, the plants, in general, came nearly 
true as to the colours, but varied much in the quantity 
of colour and quantity of white. But the mottled red 
had nearly half a dozen distinct shades of red, from a 
dark brickdust to a brilliant scarlet. All these preserved 
their doubleness in such a remarkable degree, as to 
defeat the saving of seed in any quantity; the flowers 
on the main stem being so close and compact, as to form 
no pod. From the lateral branches seed was saved from 
the distinct varieties separately; and the next sowing 
will determine, if it be not determined by the first oxpe- 
; rimeut, whether the balsam seed be not as good at one- 
year-old, as at any time, and settle how far it is constant. 
The properties of the Fuchsia led to a very animated 
debate at a recent meeting of florists in the metropolis. 
The old story about the impossibility of ever producing 
one according to the rules laid down, was repeated, and 
flowers of various characters were introduced in illus¬ 
tration. Ouo party observed, that there could not be 
two opinions on the beauty of the globular form; for the 
old Olobosa, Globosa major, and several others of that 
form, surpassed all others in richness ; and although he 
never expected to see a Globosa bud actually turn up 
and fold itself backwards, to form the globe, with its 
petals turned, there could be no doubt of the beauty of 
such a flower, if it could be had' He woidd mention 
several flowers that were favourites in proportion to their 
reflexing qualities. To begin with old ones, Ricartoni 
expanded its sepals straight out, in a true horizontal 
position, and showed the corolla; Formosa elegans went 
a step further, and reflexed a little; Roseola reflexed 
still more, and was, therefore, a still greater favourite; 
and these three were all dark. There was such a decided 
objection to sepals, which hugged and partly concealed 
the corolla, and, moreover, the outside of the sepals were 
always so much less brilliant than the inside, that how¬ 
ever difficult it may be to obtain, ho could not see an 
objection to the rules laid down. After many objections 
by two or three persons, it was decided, that round was 
richer than long buds, that the inside of the sepals was 
brighter than the outside, that the corolla ought to be 
exposed entire, and that the superiority of a variety that 
would reflex completely, might be easily imagined by 
referring to the Martagon Lily. 
The Phlox, as most of us know, is propagated by cut¬ 
tings and by parting the roots; but we saw a favourite 
variety, when its first blossoms showed its character, 
bent down and pegged along the ground, and the stem 
just covered with soil the whole length; last month we 
saw it taken up; every joint of the stem had made a 
root, and shot up a small branch ; so that it was lite¬ 
rally cut into more than twelve plants, independently of 
its full increase at the main root. We live only to learn, 
if we look about us a little. 
We have noticed a Penstemon, called Saltern, wc 
believe so entirely new in its character, that it is fairly 
a step in advance. The bloom is about the ordinary 
size; colour, full cream, a margin round the lip is pale 
rose, and there is blood-red, or a deep crimson, veiny 
marking in the lower part of the throat. We presume 
it will come out in the course of the next year; but it 
was the seedling plant we saw, and wc presume it will 
be advertised. The plant was more dwarf than many 
of the Penstemons, not exceeding twelve inches. 
Weigela Rosea has been shown, according to our ob¬ 
servation, very tall, lanky, and bare below. We have it 
covered with blossoms. The earliness is from our hav¬ 
ing forced it; not a foot high, quite a foot or fifteen 
inches through, and a perfect specimen. The treatment, 
however, is as important as it is simple. We turned it 
out in its pot, to “rough it” all the summer; in Novem¬ 
ber, we brought it into the greenhouse, and cut it down 
to about six or eight inches high; every stem was cut 
down to that length. In January it had started at 
every eye, and showed its bloom-buds; wo then removed 
it into the intermediate house, a sort of cool airy stove, 
ranging 50° for night, and allowed to reach 00° by day, 
without air, and open when above that; and in this 
house it flowered beautifully. It was an experiment, 
and we recommend everybody to cut them, when they 
house them for the winter, to a handsomely formed 
skeleton; they will find it one of the most rich and 
beautiful of modern introductions. 
We were present at a meeting, not long since, where 
the advantages of a floral union were discussed with 
great animation; and on the unfair advantages taken of 
young florists by older ones, it was urged that on enter¬ 
ing such an order, a pledge ought to be exacted from 
every member that lie will, in all transactions and at all 
exhibitions, act with honesty himself, and expose all 
who do not. It was, on that occasion, regretted that 
some persons, holding the rank of geutlemen, or of high 
standing as tradesmen, were not above exhibiting 
flowers collected by their gardeners from other person’s 
gardens, and declaring, or making their gardeners de¬ 
clare, that such flowers were their own growth and pro¬ 
perty. It was recommended that such societies should 
be confined to the discussion of floral and horticultural 
subjects, and to exhibiting at periodical meetings— First, 
newly raised fruits, flowers, plants, and vegetables, for 
the double purpose of making them known, and collect¬ 
ing opinions, of their merits ; and, secondly, to exhibit 
well-grown, curious, rare, or handsome specimens of 
anything already known. A one shilling subscription 
from each member would pay a secretary and all imme¬ 
diate expenses; and the members of every other descrip¬ 
tion of society could belong to this union, without draw¬ 
ing much upon their finances; and from a central 
meeting in London, societies, or rather branches, in 
every part of the United Kingdom, could be communi¬ 
cated with in a single post. A disagreeable task might 
bo imposed on the society, if thought necessary. Any 
