May 22.] 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
109 
not guess, seeing that “ the properties of flowers,” as now 
recognised, would at once show them that their productions 
were worthless. Thus were many old flowers shown, but 
nothing remarkable. We saw the error into which these 
present inexperienced censors fell at starting. They awarded 
certificates to flowers only partially developed—Geraniums 
with a pip open instead of a truss ; so that they have to learn 
yet that many a plant will show a good pip, and be good for 
nothing notwithstanding. Men, to be judges, should know 
something beyond the growing of a plant. 
Everybody who has the convenience ought to raise 
seedlings; for a good new variety of anything that can 
only be produced by this means, affords much gratifica¬ 
tion, if not profit, to the raiser, whether it be Geraniums, 
Polyanthuses, Carnations and Picotees, Pinks, Dahlias, 
or any other subjects. None but those persons who 
raise seedlings can imagine the excitement that the 
opening flowers produce. 
We only recommend what we do ourselves; and although 
we have been disappointed when we expected much, we have 
gone at it again with as much zeal as ever. Last year we 
procured six of the best Cinerarias we could find, and saved 
just enough seed to produce forty-eight plants, which are 
now in various states of forwardness; some showing their 
bloom-heads, though small, others not so forward; hut as 
we had not another Cineraria in the garden, we shall be 
sadly disappointed if we do not get some trifling advance 
upon old sorts. But if we fail, we shall repeat our experi¬ 
ment. 
There is nothing so mischievous as bad watering. If 
we water seldom, let it be thoroughly done when it is 
done. More plants are ruined by watering little and 
often than any unthinking person would imagine; the 
soil gets wetted an inch down, and the bottom is always 
dry. 
In a paper on the cultivation of Heaths, mention was 
made of a fine collection nearly destroyed by an amateur 
paying attention to a newspaper, in which it was recommended 
to “ give a little water,” and in another place to “ water 
sparingly.” The mischief was explained to the amateur by 
turning out one of the pots an hour after it was watered, 
and showing him the soil wetted only two inches down, and 
the lower portion as dry as snuff. There is nothing leads 
to this so much as the pots being too full of soil, because 
the water which the pot will hold above the soil ought to be 
sufficient to go through it. 
Wc have paid a visit to Mr. Grooms Nursery, but as 
he was absent we had not the advantage of his atten¬ 
tion, which we have often experienced. This nursery is 
a creation of a very short period, and from an unculti¬ 
vated swamp it has become a florists’ garden in the 
highest order. One of the great features is his enormous 
Tulip bed, which promises to be a great treat to the 
lovers of that unique flower. Mr. Groom’s bed is the 
largest, perhaps, in the country, and is covered in well; 
so that in all weathers the flowers may be seen in per¬ 
fection, and these comprise every variety worth culti- 
vation. 
Another great feature is Mr. Groom’s very extensive col¬ 
lection of Lilacs, not only all the species worthy of notice, 
but hybrids also, crossed in every conceivable way. The 
houses were full of flowers, especially of Bulbs , which, how¬ 
ever, were more plentiful a month ago. There is an excel¬ 
lent collection of general nursery plants, and many promising 
novelties, which we shall visit when in flower. Ranunculuses 
greatly abound, and Auriculas, in collection, form a pretty 
feature. 
The Dahlia trade, hitherto confined to a few, has this 
year been greatly extended, and the prizes considerably 
lowered. Many thousands of plants, of the best show j 
kinds, have been sent out this year at three shillings per 
dozen, and the most scarce of the very few good ones 
sent out last year at nine shillings. 
The effect is, that hundreds of new growers have been j 
created, as it were. The growers within two miles of London ! 
—and there are many who have stalled up within a short j 
time—serve the London shops so cheaply with dry foots as \ 
well as plants, that the very best varieties were marked up I 
for retail at sixpence each. 
ITosea Waterer’s splendid exhibition of American plants, 
in the Horticultural Gardens, is to he free to all the 
7 # I 
Fellows, and only one shilling admittance to the public, i 
This is as it should be. There is the promise of a i 
splendid bloom. 
Mr. Lockhart has every reason to believe that he has j 
discovered a remedy for the mildew on the vine, which desi- i 
deratum he will have proved during the present season, j 
and, if it answers its purpose in other hands, he will send j 
it out next year. 
The Tulip bloom has this year puzzled many of the 
growers. During the prevalence of the north-east winds, 
most people were fearful that shows were fixed too soon, 
several were put off a week; but we recommend all 
growers to keep the sun from the beds early, for if they 
are allowed to receive it, three or four melting days will 
make so much difference, that the bloom will be a short 
one, and none but the latest flowers can be exhibited. 
National Floricultural Society, May 8th. —R. Stains, 
Esq., in tlio chair. Twenty-eight new members were 
elected, and thirteen proposed. 
Amongst the articles exhibited, was a seedling Azalea 
inclica, named Piclura , from Mr. Reed, gardener to W. 
Coombes, Esq. The censors gave it a commendation, the 
third degree of excellence. Free bloomer, good habit, me¬ 
dium form, large size, white ground striped with rosy purple. 
A seedling Cineraria, named Prince Arthur, came from Mr. 
E. G. Henderson, St. John’s Wood. It received a com¬ 
mendation for an advance of form in that colour (rich crim- ! 
son, the same as Flora Me Ivor) ; habit tolerable, as far as 
we could judge from the size of the plant. A cut flower of 
a seedling Azalea, unnamed, came from a gentleman, Mr. 
Cathel, residing at Wavertree, near Liverpool. This is a 
promising flower of excellent form and good substance, but 
rather deficient in colour. The censors would like to see it 
again on the plant, in order to judge of its habit. 
The Rev. Mr. Garrett sent a seedling Pansy of some 
merit. The censors desired it to be sent again in better 
condition. | 
Sixty seedlings of various kinds, but chiefly Cinerarias, 
were exhibited, and the above-mentioned were all the cen¬ 
sors thought worthy of any remark. No first class prizes, 
or even certificates, were awarded, the censors one and all 
being firmly resolved that nothing shall receive a favourable 
opinion from them, unless it be decidedly superior to varieties 
already before the public. This will, or at least should, 
satisfy the exhibitors, who may not receive certificates for 
the articles they may send. 
The rooms were ornamented, as usual, by collections of 
named plants in bloom, from the following exhibitors ; 
Mr. E. G. Henderson, of St. John’s Wood, sent a choice 
collection of six new Cinerarias, viz., Lady Hume Campbell, 
white, blue tips, excellent form ; Marianne, white, with j 
purple tips (this obtained a certificate at the last meeting) ; j 
Mrs. Sidney Herbert, pale rose ; Catherine Hayes, blue tips, | 
white ground, excellent form; Catherine Seaton, white j 
ground, crimson border; and Madame Sontay, white centre, I 
lilac tips. Besides these, on another table, the same gen¬ 
tleman sent a collection of twenty still older varieties. 
Messrs. Henderson and Co., of Pine Apple Place, sent 
also a choice collection of new Cinerarias, amongst 
