THE LADIES’ FLORAL CABINET. 
43 
end in view of making every plant happy. It is not wise 
to place sun-\ovmg plants in the shade, or shade- loving 
plants in the sun, neither is it wise to expect ten plants to 
thrive where there is only room for two. 
We make or mar, according to our right or wrong 
treatment, the pleasures we seek; we have only to note 
as the cultivation of flowers becomes more understood. 
Instead of being satisfied with the ordinary routine of 
management, as prescribed by individuals, we begin to 
note that certain plants require a peculiar mode of treat¬ 
ment ; we are at once led to inquire why that treatment is 
necessary; we frequently see amateurs, giving their atten¬ 
tion to one particular class of plants, surpassing profes¬ 
sional men in the perfection of their specimens. 
The best Pansies I ever saw were grown by a shoe¬ 
maker, whose garden was considerably over a mile from 
his home, and the only time he had to attend to them 
was before seven A. M. and after six p. m. 
The best Dahlias I ever saw were grown by a butcher, 
who had no more time at his disposal than the shoe¬ 
maker. 
In England there are hundreds of Floral societies, the 
members being composed entirely of factory hands. 
Weavers, iron workers, mill hands and other artizans 
making specialties of Pansies, Tulips, Roses, Carnations, 
Dahlias and Chrysanthemums; having their exhibitions 
often Saturday evenings, the prizes frequently being made 
up by subscriptions on the spot, and amounting only 
to a few shillings. The pleasure these men derive from 
such meetings is calculated to be and is beneficial to their 
interests. Cannot we hope for the beginning of such 
interest in cultivation here ? The improvement among 
flowers keeps pace with the improvements of the nine¬ 
teenth century, and it seems that, instead of only a few 
families receiving the attention of introducers and raisers 
of new varieties, there are actually hundreds. I may 
mention the Abutilons or Flowering Maples. Begonia, 
especially the tuberous varieties, first introduced twenty 
years ago from Bolivia and Peru, as compared with the 
magnificent, brilliantly colored flowers of to-day, they 
were transparent and of poor shape. The perpetual 
flowering Carnations (or Pinks), are of modern date, the 
Chrysanthemum, in all its glory, has achieved its popu¬ 
larity within ten years. 
The Geraniums of every class have been brought to 
their present forms within a generation. The same ap¬ 
plied to Gladioli, to Dahlias, Clematis, many Roses, and 
indeed nearly everything else has been progressing—each 
succeeding generation of seedlings being in advance of its 
predecessor. As an example showing the improvements 
in varieties, the past summer I selected ten sorts of 
Gladioli that were introduced before 1875, and compared 
them with the same number of varieties introduced since 
that time; the same comparisons were made with twenty 
Geraniums, the differences were most remarkable—those 
of the latest introduction surpassing the others incredibly. 
Let it be understood that I do not believe in all recent¬ 
ly introduced plants as superior to all old, or that we are 
to despise old favorites, for many of our old friends are as 
desirable and welcome as the new. We have some that 
live with us generation after generation—veritable Me¬ 
thuselahs, as it were—I may refer especially to some old 
Roses, such as Agrippina, introduced in 1789; Balti¬ 
more Belle, in 1843 ; Bon Silene, in 1843 ; Saf ratio, in 
1839, and Souvenir de la Malmaison, in 1843, and others. 
Then, the beauty of the single Dahlias and single Holly¬ 
hocks of fifty years ago has been re-discovered, so with 
many other almost forgotten flowers. 
It is the love growing stronger that has brought from 
oblivion these old favorites. 
John Thorpe. 
ABUTILONS AND LANTANAS. 
T HE Abutilons, as a class, are very desirable plants, 
good either for the house or garden culture. For 
cleanliness, healthfulness, or constant flowering habit, 
there are but few shrubs that excel them. Only a few 
years ago—I think less than eight—there were but three 
shades to be found ; but what a great improvement has 
been made in this class of plants since that time. 
We now have a good variety of colors—pink, purple, 
tan, rose, crimson, scarlet, pure white, and various shades 
of yellow. 
These plants are very tractable, as well as attractive; 
by dwarfing them in season we can make them assume a 
graceful, compact habit. A well-rounded, tree-shaped 
plant, hung with its pendulous bells, is a charming sight, 
and far more preferable than those that are allowed to 
grow at random, with their two or three branches shoot¬ 
ing upward five or six feet before they put out one single 
bud or bloom; and when at last they do this, the branches 
are so slender, the flowers are but sparingly produced. 
When my plants are six or eight inches high, I cut off 
the top; this induces them to throw out at least three 
branches, which are in turn cut back, and this process 
may be continued until the plants are bushy and sym¬ 
metrical ; then let them bloom as soon as you please. I 
am aware that cutting back plants has been termed a 
“ barbarous practiceand, doubtless, it seems so to the 
amateur florist; but, when by beheading a plant that is 
inclined to grow quite tall before it throws out side shoots, 
we can double, triple or quadruple its number of branches 
and flowers in a short period of time, it is quite a tempta¬ 
tion to continue this “ cruel ” treatment regardless of con¬ 
sequences. That this practice is sometimes carried to 
excess, I cannot deny; indeed, I recall an instance as I 
write. A friend came in one springtime when I was 
pruning and cutting back my plants, getting them ready 
for the garden beds. She inquired particularly the whys 
and wherefores of so doing, and went home to put the 
theory into practice ; the result was that she lost nearly 
