6 
THE LADIES’ FLORAL CABINET. 
flowers, and expect some wonderful forms to evolve from 
the seeds produced. In reproduction, plants are governed 
by the same laws as animals ; it is therefore necessary to 
fully understand their true characters, to know what will 
be the result when certain forms and colors, as well as 
other specific characters of the plants, are brought to¬ 
gether. Good results rarely come from chance, and 
rarely fail when systematic selection has been made. 
Mr. Thorpe has fully taken into consideration the un¬ 
bounded extent to which the cross-fertilization of many 
kinds of plants is capable of being carried; and a glance at 
his Chrysanthemum, Geranium and Carnation houses will 
show the wonderful success that has crowned his efforts 
in this direction. When we look over his collection of new 
varieties of these important classes of plants we are com¬ 
pletely astonished that the growing of Chrysanthemums 
and Geraniums from seed is such an uncommon practice. 
The very trifling trouble it occasions, and the more than 
adequate compensation it occasionally affords in the 
gratification of having been the means of imparting an 
additional charm to the study of floriculture, by raising a 
new and beautiful variety, would appear sufficient to in¬ 
cite greater attention to the practice, and make every cul¬ 
tivator desirous of attaining some distinction in so inter¬ 
esting and commendable a pursuit. 
But to be more specific let us inspect this firm’s Chry¬ 
santhemum houses, where every known form and variety 
worthy of cultivation is to be found. The first is a struc¬ 
ture 30 x 100 feet with three aisles running through the 
entire length. Here the Chrysanthemum is at home, and 
where it can be seen in its greatest perfection. Our visit 
was when the plants were supposed to be at their best, 
just ready for the New York Horticultural Society’s 
special exhibition, and at the American Institute. Here 
were plants in every form in which they are usually grown 
for exhibition—standard and dwarf—massive, symmetrical 
and superbly incurved—all in the full flush of their beauty, 
and so arranged that a full view of each flower could be 
obtained. The main house was largely devoted to their 
new seedlings ; these were what we wanted to see, and 
these were what we were shown. Old forms, however 
beautiful, we did not care to study; it was “ what of the 
new? ” that interested us. We were prepared for a treat, 
but not for the complete surprise that greeted us, and 
were simply amazed at the changes wrought in this flower 
through Mr. Thorpe’s manipulations. It was not because 
there were flowers superior in size, form or color to what 
may have been seen by the casual observer in other col¬ 
lections. It was what the casual observer would not see 
that awakened in us the most lively interest. It was the 
first steps in the great changes through which the Chry¬ 
santhemum is now passing that excited our worlfcer. 
Petals dividing and sub-dividing, disks elongating, colors 
softening and blending in the most perfect harmony, 
erratic forms trying to harmonize in order to form a 
graceful symmetry; foliage assuming new shapes and 
showing more health and vigor, while the whole plant 
seemed as if infused with new life and strength. 
These great changes, hardly observable to other than a 
practiced eye, are indications of greater importance than 
any of the actual results yet obtained. They show plainly 
the sure reward there is for persistent and well-directed 
labor in any direction, and particularly in the fascinating 
work of hybridization. 
Mr. Thorpe has been remarkably successful; or, rather, 
has been amply rewarded for his labors by an unusually 
large number of flowers of superior merit. In fact, in his 
collection of seedlings, numbering several hundreds, not 
a poor flower was to be seen, while many were really 
good, and a large number were of the first order. It is a 
significant fact that at the November exhibition of the 
New York Horticultural Society, Mr. Thorpe received 
twenty-four first-class certificates for an equal number of 
distinct varieties, all seedlings which have been grown 
within the last two years. This number fully represents 
the various sections into which the Chrysanthemum has 
b.een divided, and would of themselves make a collection 
sufficiently large and varied for a first-class establishment. 
Mr. Thorpe has been no less successful with Pelargoniums, 
or what are more commonly called Geraniums. For years 
he has been persistent in his efforts to obtain results that, 
to less enthusiastic cultivators, would seem impossible. 
Not content with forms and colors that already exist, he 
is, and has been patiently at work developing almost in- 
distinct.traces of color, until he has secured some shades 
that were but a few years ago not supposed to exist. He 
is confident that he will yet produce a yellow-flowered 
Geranium, and in going over his collection, and compar¬ 
ing some of his seedlings with their parents, one cannot 
fail to see abundant evidence to establish his hopes. 
Whether he succeeds or not in developing, or separating, 
this color, until it becomes a self, he will in the meantime, 
from the hundreds of seedlings annually produced, suc¬ 
ceed in elevating the general character of the Geranium, 
which, as a bedding-plant, is of the greatest importance. 
This firm have already sent out many hundreds of Gera¬ 
niums, that are fully equal, if not superior, to those bearing 
a foreign stamp. What is true of the Chrysanthemum 
and Geranium is equally true of the Carnation. Of this 
popular flower, Mr. Thorpe has succeeded in producing 
some of the best under cultivation. We cannot attempt 
a description of varieties of any of their leading produc¬ 
tions, but cannot omit mentioning two of their Carnations, 
that surpass, in many respects, any with which we are 
acquainted. Black Knight is the very best of the dark 
Carnations, a strong grower, continuous bloomer, flowers 
a dark rich crimson, very fragrant, and conspicuous for 
their long stems. Portia is a most remarkable Carnation. 
It is an intense scarlet, brighter and clearer than any of its 
class ; it has a vigorous constitution, equal to any other 
variety, and its medium-sized flowers are freely produced. 
This establishment makes these three classes of plants 
specialties, and are sending their productions in quanti¬ 
ties to Europe, where their reputation as originators of new 
plants is well established. This is also one of the leading, 
if not the leading, bulb farm in this country. Here Glad¬ 
ioli, Tuberoses and Lilies are grown by the acre; and 
here, too, we see the work of the skillful hybridist. In no 
branch of floriculture is cross-fertilization more necessary, 
more interesting, or more profitable, than in the growing 
of the Gladiolus. It is necessary, as without it strong and 
healthy bulbs cannot be grown for any great length of 
