356 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 2, 1895. 
is to enlarge them as well as the several 
parts so as to make them regular and 
circular,or as nearly so as possible. This has 
most nearly been accomplished in the 
Pansy ; but where the fundamental struc¬ 
ture of the flower is irregular, the florist 
has, in most cases, to submit to the inevit¬ 
able, and direct the energies of nature to 
the enlargement of the flowers and to the 
production of variations and improvements 
in colour. 
The old florists, to whom various epithets 
have been applied, and whose name, we 
ought by way of courtesy, to write with a 
capital F, marked out for themselves, a 
narrow groove in which to work and model 
their flowers to a certain standard of per¬ 
fection that did not commend itself to the 
great mass of flower lovers. The very fact 
that close in-breeding was necessary to 
obtain the desired arrangement of colours, 
debilitated the vigour of many of the best 
and most highly valued varieties; and this, 
doubtless, militated against such flowers 
from ever becoming widely cultivated 
owing to the difficulty of cultivating, and 
increasing them with any degree of success. 
Amongst single flowers enjoying the special 
care of the florist in the special sense, are 
the Auricula, Pansy, Tulip, Gold-laced 
Polyanthus and Antirrhinum, though the 
rules applicable to the latter were not so 
stringent as in the other cases. The striped 
varieties of Antirrhinum were more par¬ 
ticularly the object of special attention, 
notwithstanding their inconstant nature. 
We have known a case of two varieties in 
a winning stand at an exhibition, having 
been taken from the same plant. 
Smoothness and breadth of petal are lead¬ 
ing features in the standard by which the 
older florists judged their flowers; but some 
of the modern strains of Pansies that are 
much esteemed in various parts of the 
world, may be,and are anything but smooth. 
The race of beddingViolas has been brought 
to a state of great perfection, practically 
independently of the taste and rules which 
fostered the development of show Pansies. 
Violas, if well proportioned and intrinsically 
beautiful, may be of other shapes than cir¬ 
cular, and herein is the secret of much of 
their popularity. In like manner we behold 
the surpassingly beautiful modern races of 
Primroses and Polyanthus appealing to the 
taste of thousands who neglect or even 
utterly ignore the Gold-laced Polyanthus. 
The Gladiolus, Aquilegia, Pentstemon, and 
Phlox are other instances of flowers claimed 
by the florist, but whose hand can only be 
recognised by improvements effected in 
size and colour. Where irregularity 
existed in the wild originals,it has remained 
in evidence to-day, and the properties of a 
good flower are tacitly understood by the 
discerning public, rather than defined, 
hampered and cramped by a written code 
of rules. 
Curiously enough, doubling in any of the 
above flowers would be sufficient to dis¬ 
qualify them in the eyes of the florists to 
all further consideration, so that they 
would have to take their place in the gar¬ 
den amongst decorative sorts, or consigned 
to the limbo of botanical curiosities, “As 
far from help as limbo is from bliss.” On 
the other hand the florist has tacked his 
fancy strictly to the double forms of Carna¬ 
tions, Picotees, Pinks, Chrysanthemums, 
Dahlias, Hollyhocks, Ranunculus, French 
and African Marigolds. One of the pro¬ 
perties of a good Carnation, we read, is 
that the flower stems should not be less 
than 2\ ft. high, nor more than 3f ft. What 
good purpose such a rule could serve, we 
are unable to conceive. Hardy varieties 
of some decided and comparatively uniform 
colour, such as any one may hope to grow, 
are more popular to-day than the flakes and 
bizarres formerly held in so great repute. 
Similarly the Chrysanthemum has attained 
a world-wide popularity since the unfettered 
Japanese race displaced the formal incurved 
varieties which were the object of the 
florist’s peculiar care. Single varieties of 
Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, and various 
other flowers have only comparatively 
recently been rescued from undeserved 
neglect, and the same advantages may be 
extended to others. If the Ranunculus is 
to be admitted amongst florists’ flowers, 
then may the numerous Anemones raised 
from A. coronaria ; if the Chrysanthemum, 
so the universally popular Ruses, the im¬ 
provements of man, must be regarded as par 
excellence florists’ flowers. Single and double 
Pyrethrums are admitted, so that single 
and double Paeonies and Daffodils, Sweet 
Peas, Primula Sieboldi, Delphiniums, and 
other hardy subjects can hardly be excluded, 
seeing that they have been so much 
improved and rendered so variable under 
the fostering care of man. 
The title of florists’ flower must be equally 
extended to those subjects that have been 
improved, but require varying degrees of 
protection from our ungenial climate. How 
can any one deny the title to such as 
Chinese Primulas,Cyclamens(C.persicum), 
Hippeastrums, Clivias, Cinerarias, Cal¬ 
ceolarias, Gloxinias, Balsams, Camellias, 
and others. Intrinsic beauty rather than 
any hard and fast rules have been the 
guiding factors in the development of the 
above flowers ; yet which of them can be 
strictly excluded from the list of florists’ 
flowers. Man has done as much if not 
more for them, than in the case of 
Aquilgeias, and the Asiatic Ranunculus, 
notwithstanding the double flowers of both 
kinds. If Sweet Peas are to be excluded 
because annuals, it must not be forgotten 
that the wild Pansy is not of longer 
duration. 
In the wider sense, then, we should 
regard as a florist’s flower, “ whatever has 
been taken in hand by florists generally, 
and developed into a great variety of 
attractive colours, or even shapes.” As to 
a standard or model of perfection, ideal or 
otherwise, anything that is really and 
intrinsically beautiful, will recommend 
itself to people of refined or cultured taste. 
-»*-- 
Mr. William Norman, foreman at Galloway House, 
Garlieston, has been engaged as gardener to Sir 
J. H. Amory, Bart., Knightshayes Court, Tiverton, 
Devon. 
Mr. Stephen Sherlock, for the past ten years with 
Mr. Bailey at the Briars Gardens, Reigate, has 
been engaged as gardener to G. W. Tyer, Esq., Oak- 
wood, Mortimer, Berks. 
Herr Julius Finger a famous German horticulturist 
and the raiser of those four fine roses Julius Finger, 
H. P., Jules Finger, Tea, Mme. Marie Finger, H.P., 
and Mme. Ju'es Finger, hybird Tea, died on Decem¬ 
ber 19th last, at Millstatt, Karthen. 
Proposed Chrysanthemum Show at Coventry.—At a 
meeting recently held at the Craven Arms Hotel it was 
unanimously resolved to hold a Chrysanthemum,Fruit 
and Flower Show in the Corn Exchange, Coventry, in 
November next, and a committee was appointed to 
solicit subscriptions to start the show upon a firm 
basis. It was pointed out that similar shows were 
held at many towns of far less population than 
Coventry, and it was hoped that, considering the 
number of gentlemen in the neighbourhood who are 
large growers of this popular flower, that a show 
would be a great attraction, and bring many visitors 
into the town. Mr. F. Curtis, of 9, Cross-cheaping, 
was appointed Secretary. 
Plants: Perfume and Colour.—About 4,200 species 
of plants are utilised for various purposes in Europe. 
Of these only about one-tenth have an agreeable 
perfume, the others being either inodorous or having 
an unpleasant smell. White flowers are the most 
numerous; 1,124 species out of 4,200 are white, and 187 
of these have a scent; 931 (77 perfumed) are yellow ; 
next in order comes red, with 823, of which 84 give 
forth a perfume ; then blue, 594 (34 scented) ; and 
violet, 308, only 13 of which have any perfume. The 
remaining 400 kinds are of various shades of colour, 
and only 28 of them have a pleasant smell. 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. —At the monthly 
meeting of the committee held on the 25th ult., 
special receipts since the previous meeting were 
announced as follows: Mr. Matthew Todd, Edin¬ 
burgh, by sale of flowers at the Chrysanthemum 
Show, £1 10s. ; Mr. H. J. Jones, Lewisham, £g 10s.; 
Midland Carnatioa Society, per Mr. R. Sydenham, 
£5] Mr. J. Kipling, Knebworth, Herts (Skating on 
Knebworth Lake), £2 ; Mr. H. Herbot, Stanmore, 
Richmond, New Year’s Gift, £1 is.; Mr. W. H. 
Divers, Belvoir Castle, 8s. 4d. Collecting boxes: 
Mr. W. Marshall, Anchinraith, £1 7s. iod.; Mr. J. 
Hughes, Birmingham, £1 3s. 3d.; Mr. G. Fry, 
Lewisham, £1 is. iod. ; Mr. H. Perkins, Park 
Place, Henley-on-Thames. The annual dinner was 
fixed to take place at the Hotel Metropole on F'ri- 
day, April 5th, when Mr. Harry J. Veitch will 
preside. At the annual general meeting to be held 
on the 8th inst., Mr. John Harrison, of Leiecster, 
has kindly consented to preside. 
Presentation to a Gardener.— On Saturday evening, 
the members of the Preston and Fulwood Horticul¬ 
tural Society met in the Mayor's Parlour at the Town 
Hall, with the object of presenting a silver-mounted 
ebony walking stick, and tobacco pipe and pouch to 
Mr. R. Frisby, gardener at Worden Hall, Leyland, 
who is about to leave the neighbourhood owing to 
the death of his employer. There was a good 
attendance, and the Mayor (Councillor W. H, 
Woods) in making the presentation said Mr. Frisby 
had done much to bring about the success of the 
Society, and no doubt he would be very sorry to 
leave them. Mr. Frisby’s papers before the Society 
had always commanded attention, and he had been a 
very useful member whom all would be sorry to lose. 
He had great pleasure in presenting Mr. F'risby with 
the tribute of his friends, and hoped it would be a 
memento of his connection with the Society. Mr. 
Frisby briefly responded, and wished the Society 
every success. 
The I. R- Agricultural Society in Vienna, which 
stands under the patronage of His I. & R. Highness 
the Archduke Charles Louis, will hold an Inter¬ 
national Mart of Agricultural Machines of all kinds 
from the 4th to 7th May next. The prospectus 
includes not only agricultural machines in the strict 
sense of the word, but appliances used in all branches 
of industry connected with agriculture, such as 
breweries, distilleries, yeast, sugar, vinegar, and 
starch factories. The Mart will also extend to tools 
and engines used in forestry, sawmills, celluloid 
factories, orchards, vineyards, in the feeding and 
breeding of cattle, horses, fish, etc. It will also 
comprise electrical machines in the service of these 
industries, seeds, and manure. The Austro- 
Hungarian Consul-General, 11, Queen Victoria 
Street, E.C., will be glad to give all further infor¬ 
mation possible to anyone interested in the matter. 
Willow Roots for Orchid Growing.—Mr. A. 
Annandale, Bielside, Dunbar, N.B., writes in the 
Orchid Review :—" I am not aware this material has 
been used previously, and it was only by chance that 
I discovered it. I have a number of Willow trees 
whose roots find their way through the banks into a 
small stream, and for a number of years these roots 
have been regularly cut to prevent them choking the 
flow of the water. As my gardener was not satisfied 
with the peat he was able to obtain in the district, 
owing to its deficiency in fibre, I suggested he should 
try the Willow roots, and now, after two years' trial, 
he is satisfied that no better substance could be 
obtained, as the Orchids have thriven in a way they 
never did previously. The advantages appear to be 
that perfect drainage is secured, that the fibre does 
not become sour or rotten, and that the roots of 
Orchids take to it most kindly, penetrate it, and grow 
freely, and show no symptoms of decay, although 
potted for a long time. It also seems to retain a 
sufficiency of moisture, in conjunction with the 
sphagnum, longer than other substances.” Carefully 
conducted experiments with Orchids grown under 
similar conditions, but each potted in one of the 
