146 
THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
structure there is not a single foot of room wasted; in 
many of the houses we noticed Orchids suspended from 
the ridge the entire length, and the side walls covered 
with the same, while on the benches were Dracaenas 
and other hothouse plants, and beneath the benches 
were Palms in variety; nor did the economy of space 
stop here, for on the pipes, both sides, and the entire 
length of the house, were large flats (shallow boxes) of 
earth in which Palm seeds were sown and the young 
plants just springing into life—one of the most interest¬ 
ing sights we have ever seen in plant propagation. 
Economy of space was not yet satisfied, for there were 
narrow shelves under the centre benches, on which 
were almost innumerable numbers of boxes of Lily-of- 
the-Valley in bloom for Mr. Wilson’s cut-flower busi¬ 
ness, this planting having been made expressly for the 
Easter trade. The cut-flower trade is a prominent 
feature in Mr. Wilson’s business, and the plants grown 
for this purpose occupy about one-third of his houses. 
He has seven houses devoted to hybrid perpetual Roses 
alone, the Gen’l Jacqueminot taking the lead, although 
La France, Capt. Christy and other favorites were as 
plentiful as wav-side seeds. Tea-Roses in variety were 
awarded about the same space. The Marechal Niels 
seemed to grow indiscriminately everywhere, at least, 
they covered every available space, and were completely 
covered with large and well-colored buds. When we 
saw them (April 7th) they had just finished cutting for 
the market, or rather his store; yet it is safe to say that 
a thousand more could have been cut had they been 
needed. Camellias, Carnations, Narcissus, Tulips, 
Hyacinths, Lilacs, Lily-of-the-Yalley, and, in short, 
every variety of cut-flowers known in the trade were 
produced in the same profusion. 
Mr. Wilson gave us the following list of his annual 
production, 50,000 Alternantheras, in variety; 8,000 
Achyranthus, 50,000 Verbenas; 50,000 Coleus; 10,000 
Chrysanthemums, including all of the more popular 
varieties; 10,000 Dahlias, in fifty sorts; 50,000 Ferns; 40,- 
000 Geraniums; 4,000 Heliotropes; 10,000 Smilax; 50,000 
General Jacqueminot Roses; 50,000 assorted hybrid 
perpetuals, and 100,000 Teas; 10,000 English Ivies; 10,000 
Clematis. The Dracaena is here a specialty; 20,000 Ter¬ 
minals; 20,000 Indivisa, and 5,000 of the more rare sorts 
being required annually. Three houses are devoted al¬ 
most exclusively to Orchids, Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, 
and Phalaenopsis, in nearly all the species and varieties, 
taking the lead. Mr. Wilson claims to be the largest 
grower of Palms in this country, and we do not think 
the claim can be disputed. Last year he planted 1,000 
lbs. of the seed of one species alone, the Eutrepe edulis; 
and grew 50,000 Latania Borbonica; 40,000 Pandanus 
eudalis,and a proportionate number of nearly every Palm 
under cultivation. In addition to;tliese, he grows 100,000 
miscellaneous bedding plants, besides exotic Grapes, 
small-fruit plants,ornamental shrubbery, bulbs, etc..etc. 
Among the new plants worthy of special mention, w r e 
noticed the new double Abutilon, A. Thompsoni plena. 
This originated in a sport from A. Thompsoni variegata, 
and it still retains the beautifully mottled yellow and 
green foliage of that variety, but with perfectly double 
flowers that in form resemble a double Hollyhock; 
color a deep rich orange shaded and streaked with 
crimson. This plant is a decided acquisition for baskets, 
vases or for the window-garden. 
The New Golden Alternanthera aurea nana intro¬ 
duced last season, proved so valuable for the outer row 
of the ribbon border that it is largely propagated this 
season, and must be generally used, as its compact 
habit, and rich golden foliage forms a pleasing contrast 
with other forms of plants with ornamental foliage. 
Asparagus tenuissimus is a new plant Mr. Wilson 
has fully appreciated and propagated to a great extent, 
so that he is now able to offer it by the thousand. For 
decorative purposes, either in the conservatory, green¬ 
house or the window garden, this plant has no equal. 
It is of the most graceful form and habit, and for floral 
decoration it far surpasses any of the Ferns, not only 
in elegance, but because of its durability; it will retain 
the freshness of its beautiful rich green for several 
weeks after being cut, if placed in water. 
The Impatiens Sultani has been frequently noticed 
in horticultural papers of late, and it deserves all the 
praise that has been awarded it. Although a green¬ 
house plant, it may be planted out with great advan¬ 
tage in the open border during the summer months, 
and will give a profuse and continuous bloom. The 
flowers are produced in axillary corymbs; in color they 
are of the richest carmine. 
Lavatora Arborea variegata. A variety of the com¬ 
mon Tree-mallow, with foliage variegated with several 
shades of green, white and yellow, which makes it a 
very effective plant for garden, decoration. We should 
not recommend this plant for small gardens, but for 
large borders or beds interspersed with other plants it 
is very desirable. 
Coleus Golden Beauty. A variety introduced last 
season, with foliage of a rich golden-yellow that does 
not burn or fade into a sickly green during the hottest 
weather. On this account it is a valuable acquisition. 
When planted with C. Verschaffeltii, it forms a most 
pleasing contrast. 
Besides those enumerated, there were to be seen many, 
in fact, all the novelties of recent introduction in the 
line of useful or ornamental plants, not singly, but in 
quantity. Mr. Wilson has no patience with plants that 
cannot be rapidly propagated. However beautiful a 
plant may be, if it cannot be reproduced without diffi 
culty, it finds no favor with him. His appreciation of a 
plant is in proportion to its capabilities for commercial 
purposes; a plant for his purposes must possess both 
quantity and quality. His tastes are regulated in a great 
measure by his interests. While he has a true love for 
beautiful flowers, plants or trees—more by far than the 
average florist—yet he wisely discriminates. A plant 
has no value in his eyes, although he may be its happy 
possessor, simply because there are but two or three in 
the country, and because it can only be produced with 
great difficulty and at great expense. On the contrary, 
the plants that can be produced at the least expense, 
providing of course they are ornamental, are the ones 
that meet with the most favor with him. 
Neither will Mr. Wilson reject a favorite plant be¬ 
cause fashion dictates another. Fashion said some time 
ago, “The Camellia must go f he said not, but kept on 
propagating, and has now one of the largest collections 
in the country, and now that the Camellias are again ad¬ 
mitted into good society , his stock is ready for the emer¬ 
gency, and cannot but yield immense profits annually. 
We should advise our many friends when in this city 
to visit Mr. Wilson’s establishment, as half a day cannot 
be more pleasantly spent. 
