FLOWERS AND SHRUBS ON SALE. 
219 
growing state, and not forced for sale, and thus unfit for ordinary 
growing, as is sometimes the case with plants obtained from the 
understrappers of the floral art. 
We anxiously solicit well-authenticated communications for this 
department of our journal; and we assure our readers that, in every 
practical case, we shall personally examine those collections which 
we recommend. Those to be noticed in the sequel of this article, 
we have seen in progress, and many of them in flower, either in 
the mother plant, (the two plants in case of a hybrid,) or the indi¬ 
vidual itself; and therefore we can speak of them with the utmost 
confidence. In a single number we can of course notice only one 
or two collections ; but we shall make every reasonable effort to 
do justice to all. 
Some may suppose that the time which we have chosen for the 
commencement of this department is not the proper one ; because 
many, have already planted their tulips and other choice bulbs for 
the ensuing season ; and the time for arranging border flowers has 
not yet arrived. From this we dissent. The winter’s pause is, 
though there are several exceptions, the proper time for moving- 
all plants with the least possible waste of their growing energies ; 
and with regard even to tulips and other bulbs which are usually 
put into the ground in the end of autumn or the beginning of 
winter, we are by no means sure that that is the very best mode of 
practice, especially for that most numerous class of growers, who 
grow but a little spot and have not all the accommodations of a 
first-rate professional grower. If the winter shall turn out either 
very cold or very rainy,—and English winters are generally the one 
or the other,—we think it advisable that those who only grow a few 
tulips or other bulbs for ornament, should not put them in the 
ground till the spring. They may flow r er later by this treatment, 
but we are pretty certain that they will flower better. If they 
are put in early, and very wet weather ensues, they are in danger 
of being rotted ; and if they begin to bourgeon, and severe cold 
sets in, they are chilled ; or if protected by mats, litter, or any other 
means, they are apt to be drawn up and enfeebled. Therefore, 
excepting in the case of those who have every accommodation 
for the very highest artificial treatment, we would recommend 
culture according to nature. We shall however have frequent 
opportunities of reverting to this part of the subject; and there¬ 
fore we shall proceed to our enumeration. 
