CURRENT NOTES AND COMMENTS. 
Society of American Florists. This is a new organi¬ 
zation formed at Chicago, June 19, and has for its 
objects the elevation and encouragement of horticul¬ 
ture—an object of sufficient importance to all those 
interested in the culture of plants and flowers, to 
secure their active co-operation. There has long been a 
desire on the part of our leading florists for the forma¬ 
tion of such a society, as there are matters of mutual in¬ 
terest constantly arising that can only be settled by ref - 
erence to a tribunal of the highest order. American flor¬ 
ists are constantly surprising the florists of the old world 
by new varieties, the results of hybridization, and there 
should be a society of a national character, capable of 
recognizing and appreciating the labors of our hybrid¬ 
ists. In case a subject is introduced, whether it be a 
Bose, Lily, Gladiolus or Geranium, that shows unmis¬ 
takable marks of improvement, it should be entitled to 
the society’s stamp and sent out with its approval. 
To be of use, this society must have character, and that 
national. A mere social club, with stated meetings for 
pleasure merely, would be of no use. While good na¬ 
ture should always prevail, good common sense and 
judgment impartial, should be the predominant feature 
of the organization. What we want is a society that, 
when it gives one of our productions its approval, we 
are honored by it, not simply complimented. Certifi¬ 
cates of merit should not be given to please an exhib¬ 
itor, but to do him justice, and they should not be given 
so freely as to make them valueless. Such, we trust, 
will be the character of this new society. Its president, 
we know, shares our views on this subject, and that he 
will be something more than a “figure-head,” we have 
every reason to believe, therefore we have high hopes 
for the future of the society. Its officers are John 
Thorpe, Esq., Queens, N. Y., President; E. G. Hill, 
Esq., Richmond, Ind., Secretary; M. A. Hunt, Esq., 
Chicago, Ill., Treasurer. 
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Orchids. We are in receipt of a wholesale and retail 
catalogue of Orchids grown by A. Brackenridge, Esq., 
at the Rosebank Nurseries, Govanstown, Md. The 
value of this catalogue is greatly enhanced by the 
“ Practical Hints ” on Orchid Culture, by C. H. Snow, 
Esq. Those who have been interested in E. L. Taplin’s 
papers on Orchids, in the present and late numbers of 
the Cabinet, will find this catalogue of great assistance 
in making up their collections. 
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Lilium Longiflorum. Only one species of this noble 
Lily was known a few years ago, and that was the poor¬ 
est of the family. Then the var. Eximium was intro¬ 
duced, and it justly created quite a sensation, because 
of its larger and better-formed flowers. Of this variety 
there are now several forms, the best, by far, being 
Le Wilsonii, which is the true Bermuda Lily. As it 
grows in our gardens its flowers are eight inches long, 
five inches across, and of a pure waxy whiteness; they 
are not liable to split; the anthers are set very deep in 
the throat, so that the flowers are not so much discol¬ 
ored by the pollen, and they are of the most delicious 
fragrance. For cut flowers this Lily would be very 
valuable were it not for its overpowering sweetness. 
L. Longiflorum folia variagata proves a decided acquisi¬ 
tion; and for its ornamental foliage alone it would be 
well worth growing; in the open field it is quite dwarf, 
making it suitable for a border plant. Its great value 
consists in its flowers being shorter and broader than 
any of the other varieties. 
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Gaillardia Picta Lozenziana. This annual well sus¬ 
tains its former high reputation. It is now flowering 
splendidly in a rubbish heap from seed accidentally sown 
last autumn, the heads being as large and full as 
when given the best garden culture. To contrast with 
this is the “ novelty.” 
Nicotiana Affinis. A decided failure in case a hand¬ 
some or useful flower is wanted. It blooms at night, 
and is then quite fragrant, its only virtue. The out¬ 
side of the flower is a dirty, greenish-white color, which 
quite overpowers the white of the inside. As a cut 
flower it is altogether useless. 
The Gladiolus has a friend and advocate in the Rev. 
Henry Ward Beecher. He says : “ What shall I say of 
the Gladiolus? It is the flower for the million. It is 
as easy to manage as the Potato. It blossoms long, and 
better, if cut and carried into the house than if left out 
doors. Its variety of color is endless. It is healthy ; 
multiplies its bulbs rapidly, can be kept through winter 
in a common cellar, if dried off a little at first, and is 
calculated to return as much pleasure for a small outlay 
as any flower in vogue. A few dozen to start with 
will convince any man of the truth of my words.” 
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Gladiolus. This season, thus far, has been in all re¬ 
spects as favorable for the Gladiolus as could be desired, 
and consequently we are having now the finest blooms 
of all the most valued sorts that we have ever seen. 
Some of the seedlings that proved moderately good last 
year, are now simply superb. At the beginning of the 
season every thing was most promising : Bulbs planted 
under the most favorable conditions had a vigorous 
growth, which, owing to plenty of heat and moisture, 
has been unabated. As a rule, cutting for the market 
does not begin much before the middle of August, but 
now, the 20th of July, one grower is cutting hundreds 
of spikes daily, and by the first of August will probably 
cut thousands. It is a little too early to say much of 
the new varieties of 1834, but we have thus far seen 
enough to satisfy us that we shall have more than in 
any previous year. In the next number of the Cabinet 
we shall list, with description, all the really good va¬ 
rieties that the leading growers of this country have 
produced this season. 
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Lemon Verbena. In a recently-issued book, entitled 
“ Among the Spanish People,” the author speaks of the 
