266 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
metropolitan growers have always to contend with a smoky and 
impure atmosphere, the necessary consequence of which is a 
languishing sickly growth, and deteriorated bloom, so that when 
exhibited against flowers which have the advantage of pure air, 
the difference is much against them ; this we believe to have been 
a principal cause that our present subject has not, during the 
past season, arrived at that preeminence we think it capable of 
attaining when under the influence of a better situation ; by this 
we mean a greater number of perfect flowers will be obtained. 
We should be much pleased to see the attention of cultivators 
more extensively directed to the improvement of striped and 
tipped flowers; this class offers a fine opportunity, and much may 
be done in it; some advancement has been made by a few 
spirited growers, but nothing like perfection presents itself. We 
cannot account for this lamentable deficiency on any other 
ground than inattention, for even the few now grown in their 
present rough state are not devoid of beauty, and this class 
admits of every possible degree of variety. Why self-coloured 
flowers should be cultivated even to exclusion, we cannot divine ; 
there may be a difficulty in procuring good stripes or clear and 
distinct tips, combined with the form now so thoroughly essen¬ 
tial, but this difficulty is to be overcome by the same means that 
the present beautiful race of entire coloured flowers was obtained. 
We therefore strongly recommend them to the notice of all in¬ 
terested in this indispensable flower ; the best we have seen this 
season (of this description,) are Messrs. Smith’s Rainbow, and 
Mr. Mitchell’s Beauty of Sussex. Editor. 
PROTECTION OF PLANTS FROM FROST. 
As we are now in the midst of winter, a few cautionary hints 
as to the proper guarding against and repelling attacks from 
frost may not be out of place. 
Our first remarks will apply to plants growing in the open 
air. The prevailing error in the protection of plants in this situa¬ 
tion is too close covering. It is usual with such plants as 
