THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.— June 3, 1850. 
175 
I 
: governing these Societies respecting the exhibition of other 
florist-flowers, in this instance there is none, as a glance at 
their schedules will abundantly prove—we find some patro¬ 
nizing one truss of a kind, others requiring three, or more. 
I think every lover of this general favourite will agree with 
! me, when 1 state that here is a flower that, like many others, 
has advanced from an almost insignificant botanical species 
i to almost perfection (according to the florist’s idea, certainly 
not a whit behind others which this personage claims). 1 
say, the time has arrived that there ought to be one definite 
rule patronized by all societies. I think, if we reason by i 
analogy, we shall find that the Verbena ought not to be ex- 
; hibited in any other form than that of single trusses ; thus— 
j Suppose we showed the Auricula, or Polyanthus flowers, 
which are comprised of a number of pips similar to the 
Verbena, I fancy there is not a society that would require 
more than one truss of a kind to be exhibited in a collection. 
Again, when we exhibit florist flowers, the object is prin¬ 
cipally to show their form to the greatest possible advantage ; 
indeed, this is the first rule in judging. Our object is not 
to exhibit bouquets. As form is the. principal characteristic 
of a superior flower, how is it posible to judge this quality 
aright when huddled together in bunches? I have ex¬ 
perienced the difficulty myself, when judging stands made 
after this absurd principle or fashion. There is only one 
advantage attending it, which is the following :—It matters 
little about having a few indifferent back petaled flowers, 
for it is most probable they will never be discovered if the 
centres are well up. 
The Verbena is, deservedly, a public favourite ; for when 
we consider the combination of colours, its graceful habit, 
period of flowering, and adaptability for in-door or out door 
cultivation, whether seen under all the various positions 
in which it is placed in the modern flower-garden, or as an 
object of the florist’s skill (when shown as it ought to be) 
under all these aspects, I say it is, deservedly, a favourite, 
and amply repays any trouble bestowed upon it, consequently 
worthy to be judged by some definite rule when subjected to 
the scrutiny of the censor. I have been favoured with the 
schedule of the Chelmsford Horticultural Society, which, as 
it is of national character, we reasonably expect to see the 
choicest products of the vegetable or floral world exhibited 
to the greatest possible advantage. In this schedule we 
find the best twenty-four Verbenas, not more than Jive 
trusses. If Floral Societies require Verbena bouquets, I 
hold this huddled principle to be perfectly admissible; but it 
ought to be specified to that effect. On the contrary, if we 
desire to see all the floral qualities of this flower shown to 
the greatest advantage, I believe we can see it in no other 
form but in stands composed of single trusses. 1 trust you 
will favour your numerous readers with your opinion. In 
conclusion, I beg to state the above remarks apply only to 
cut flowers.—S. Amey, Saling Grove. 
CHILDREN'S GARDENS. 
NO. VI. 
In examining the prize lists of our country Flower Shows, 
i I have often remarked that those who carry off the palm in 
i the leading classes, as Roses, Dahlias, and Carnations, do 
not compete in others of easier or less costly cultivation. 
It is well that it is so ; as, in consequence, we all have a 
chance of competing—a chance which I desire to extend to 
my proteges, by reminding my readers that among these, so- 
called, minor prizes there are many well adapted for youthful 
competition. I unhesitatingly assert that there is no such 
mystery in the production of first rate blooms of many a 
favourite flower as to forbid success. Attention alone is 
required; and youth is not so fickle or careless as some 
philosophers would wish us to believe. 
Experience has proved to me that the main ingredient of 
success consists in growing a number of plants sufficient to 
supply, in full perfection at one time, the dozen or half- 
dozen blooms required. Now, space being wanting in your 
son's plot, where is it to be found ? Suppose Asters to be 
the prize in view. I am bold enough to propose that you 
hand over your own bed of them to your son’s care, with a 
proviso, that as it is in a prominent position, and is only 
j lent to him for a precise purpose, you are to have the 
arrangement of the colours, Ac. If the boy prepares, 
plants, weeds, and waters the said bed, he will fairly earn 
his prize, and have “ a weakness” for Asters all the rest of 
his life. 
The growth of flowers in pots may be turned to useful 
account if the young are encouraged to keep their room 
adorned with a succession of plants in bloom. The fore¬ 
thought and attention required will supply employment for 
mind and body during many an hour which the limited 
space of their garden would leave unoccupied, while the 
practice itself would initiate them in the method of growing 
good specimen plants. A strong root of Heartsease, neatly 
pegged round a good-sized pot, will do admirably for the 
purpose, and last a long while in bloom. Violets, Lily of 
the Valley, Mignonette, and a hundred others, are available. 
My remarks have hitherto referred exclusively to floricul¬ 
ture ; but it does sometimes happen, that as soon as a boy 
is put in possession of a plot, his mind revels in dreams of 
mustard and cress, and other things more adapted to please 
the palate than to charm the eye. Well, do not be annoyed; 
I myself cannot praise his taste, but I nevertheless hope 
well of him, regarding it as an evidence of a natural bent 
for the utilities of life. If he is persevering, and successful 
in raising his small salads, 1 venture to predicate that he 
I will be an industrious business man. Let not bis choice be 
' regarded with disapproval, but rather endeavour to feel the 
same interest in his Radishes as if they were Roses. It may 
| be true that your table is supplied with far better vegetables 
' than your son can produce; yet I doubt if he would admit 
! so much ; for his will have, to him, a flavour none others 
I can possess. I have never eaten nicer radishes than the 
hot, stringy ones I grew when a boy ; and I well remember 
my vexation when, one dinner-time, I found that the cook 
had mingled my half-dozen kidney beans with the general 
boiling; adding, by-the-by, ten-fold to the offence by de¬ 
claring that certain tough specimens complained of were 
mine.—E 
GRAFTING GERANIUMS. 
After reading Mr. Fish’s article on the above, I thought 
I would try my hand at it; but I found it a very difficult job. 
Nevertheless, believing the theory to be practicable, and 
being enthusiastic, I practised on about a dozen plants—and, 
I believe, some of them a dozen times over—and only got 
one out of all the lot to take ; but now, at the time I write, it 
is a most beautiful object, well repaying all the trouble. It 
is the While Idj Leaf upon Smith's Emperor , at the back of 
a greenhouse, wall grafted at the top, and allowed to hang 
down, its most natural habit of growth. The Scarlet variety 
would look better; but I have not seen it. 
I bad a most beautiful variegated sport of that large 
Scarlet just at the time Mr. Beaton was giving advice about 
I striking such things. The moment they appeared, following 
that advice, I cut it off directly, and struck it; but it grew 
green, to my great disappointment. I believe I was too 
soon upon it. 
Would you oblige me with a list of twelve hardy biennial 
and perennial seeds, to sow now for the borders next year? 
I have plenty of common ones ; 1 want some that are extra 
: choice. —W. S. 
_ 
QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 
GARDENING. 
WHITE KEEPING ONION.—EARLY ROUND 
POTATOES. 
“ 1 should feel obliged if you would inform me, through 
the medium of your paper, which White Onion is the best 
for keeping. — [White Globe.] I should also be glad if 
you would tell me which is the earliest of the three following 
potatoes — Early Shaw, Early Oxford, and Forty-fold.— 
[Early Oxford.] Should you be acquainted with any variety 
of round Potato earlier than the above-mentioned, I should 
be pleased if you would mention it. — [Fox’s Early De¬ 
light.]— Clericus.” 
