VISITS TO NURSERIES. 
37 
establishment, and what is to be seen there, without any pilotage of 
ours. But, in this flower-loving age, there are many who visit 
the metropolis only by snatches of time, and who are so much 
engaged in other matters, that they have no leisure for hunting out 
such floral beauties as they desire to possess. For their use 
chiefly, therefore, we shall continue our visits to the leading 
establishments, noting what is more especially attractive in each, 
in the fond hope that our notes may be as welcome to others, 
as the visits are delightful to ourselves. 
Fair Flora is, however, a mother so prolific, that no one man 
can adopt the whole, or even the major part of her lovely children, 
and at the same time do justice to them in the way of that education 
of which they are so susceptible, and by which they are so much 
improved. Indeed, it may be said that, in every case, a “florist’s 
flower” is, in a great measure, a product of art, only that the art 
has a,living subject upon which to operate • and such being the 
case, if the hand of art is allowed much to slacken, and more 
especially if it is altogether withdrawn, the flower has a tendency 
to revert back again to what it is in w r ild nature. 
In remote parts of the country—and there is none so remote as 
that the love of flowers has not reached it, the professional florist, 
who supplies those around him, must grow a little of every thing 
that is in demand ; and by this distraction of his attention, it is 
not possible that he can do that justice to any single species which 
can be done by one, the objects of whose attention are less 
numerous. No doubt there are, in the country, men who have 
deservedly acquired name and eminence, in consequence of which 
they can draw customers from afar, and such may make their 
election of what they are to cultivate, and what not. Such how¬ 
ever are, and must remain the exceptions, and not the rule. It 
is only in a great place like London, that the proper division 
of study and labour in this profession is practicable; and the 
interest both of the professor and of the art points out the culti¬ 
vation of a moderate number of special favourites, and the cul¬ 
tivating of them with a view to every improvement of which 
they are, or can be made, susceptible. This is a work of much 
observation, study, and experience ; and he who wishes to be 
eminent in it, ought not to have his attention divided by any other 
subject ; and such is the love of fine flowers, that no judicious 
cultivator of them need go without an ample reward. 
