As we are drawing near to the close of the floral year, we may turn back at our leisure and review some of the work that has been done in the various departments of floriculture. In what has there been the greatest advance? Fuchsias. Two of the finest dark varieties in cultivation belong to 1853, as it were - Glory, let out by Mr. Smith, although raised by Banks ; and King Charming, let out by Mr. Mayle, raised, perhaps, by Stokes. If these be not all we could wish, they are nearer to it than any in cultivation, and must have the leading places in every collection. In the light Fuchsias there has not been so great a movement The Duchess of Lancaster is the best form, but is deficient in contrast between the sepals and the corolla, which is too pale; but as form is the first property, we must give the Duchess the lead Then we have England's Glory (Harrison), Lady Franklin (Smith), Incomparable (Mayle), and Beauty (Smith), all different, but beautiful corollas; and the only fault is, they do not reflex enough. England's Glory, perhaps, reflexes most, but we have not satisfied ourselves with the growth yet; and as this makes great difference in the reflexting qualities, we must decide hastily but certainly. The pale ones do not come up to the reds.

Moore A Son, of Birmingham, have advertised one, the Duke of Wellington, a red variety raised by Stokes, and it is in form perfectly unique; but there is not sufficient contrast between the sepals and the corolla, which is not dark enough; but the reflexing is perfect, the points literally curling oyer and touching the stem. In fact, we are progressing in Fuchsias more than in any other flower. Sedonia, our favorite of two years' ago, has, however, not been put back by anything. It is still like nothing but itself - beautiful and novel in color, graceful in form, abundant in flower; it is capable of being grown into the most elegant specimen, and there is scarcely a flowering plant of any description that can vie with it In Hollyhocks but little has been added to the noble varieties we already possess. Numerous seedlings have been produced, said to be improvements on others, and named accordingly; but we have not seen the " improvement." There may have been a shade of difference in color, but there have been the broad, flimsy guard petals much too conspicuous, the thin watery colors, the loose florets, and other drawbacks on several that have nevertheless been " certified ;" and people weak enough to attend to certificates will buy.

In Paosies the progress is slow if we take the stands of flowers exhibited as the guide. There is nothing in them more brilliant nor more effective than there was two or three years since; a few new ones that will be out soon may help a little. Pinks have made a great start, not publicly, but in raisers' hands; we have seen scores of good varieties in seedling Pink beds equal to anything we see exhibited, and in greater variety; indeed, we think any one of two or three raisers we know could turn out a good dozen. Presently we shall see whole batches advertised, and if not too dear they will sell. Pinks have always exhibited to indifferent judges a great sameness, and any new and good variety will be eagerly bought In Tulips, every year adds something to our stock; but sameness is the bane of the Tulip. In the country they have some novelties; but they are of the same character as old ones, different in their faults and beauties, but not striking. One has a shorter cup than this, and another is not so flimsy as that, but the only things really novel, that we have seen, are the seedlings at Mr. Goldham's. These we saw of different ground-colors, and with fine changes in the style.

Mr. Slater, too, of Manchester, has some fine seedlings, but they are improvements upon old sorts rather than distinct novelties: very desirable, but not such a move as we want to see. Pelargoniums generally produce annually a score or two of new names, and some of them are pretty, but the difference in general is so little that one might fairly wait till they are out and grown by others, instead of buying all, and finding in the majority scarcely a change from what we have got A new style altogether is found in Lady Paxton, which is in most respects like the several white flowers with crimson or dark top petals, but the novelty is in this: there are three striking spots on the lower petals; which peculiarity, beside the beauty of it, takes it out of all the classes we have. Nonsuch, and one or two others of the dark sort, have spots on the lower petals, but there is no white ground variety among all we have seen that has spots, unless we go to the fancy bedding sorts, so that this may be called a move. Mr. Dobson has, doubtless, some novelties among the seedlings raised at Mr. Beck's ; but we have not seen all of them. There will also be the usual batches of sorts too good to throw away, but too bad to be sold at high prices. Dahlias have done something.

There will be half a dozen first-class flowers come out, a dozen second-class, and perhaps the usual number of third-class. The second-class flowers being about as good as Societies call first-class - that is to say, flowers that will come respectable mostly, and sometimes excellent, but which are only presumed improvements on old sorts, or, if novel, have some prevailing fault "We have seen two flowers of Keynes's, of Salisbury, perfect gems, Fanny Keynes and Richard Bawlings. A blush white, called Mrs. Rawlings, very fine; Champion, an orange, of Whale's, very noble and good; Golden Eagle, in the same class, good. But the King of the Yellows is the flower of the season, because it has been often shown and never once shown badly; it has been first-rate all through, and twice we have seen it faultless. Then we have a curious and not badly-formed flower, called Ariel, white edged; not abrupt, but the rose color of the ground softens off to a white. Other flowers worth notice are, John Keynes, Margaret, Primrose Perfection, Beauty of Slough, Captain Trotter, Earl of Shaftsbuty, and Lord Dungannon, all seen good, but with some slight drawback.

Prince Alfred, or Arthur, we forget which, has been shown very bright and good; and Berbury's Kate, which should have come out last year, is, we understand, to come out in May. This was shown good last year. In fancy flowers, there is one called Marvel, a tarnation stripe, beating all in that very dark, well-defined fancy, after Moroc and Gasparine. There are other flowers that we may think of hereafter, but the general character of the lot is good ordinary varieties, as times go, but nothing to stand out in relief. However, we have " run the length of our tether," and must halt for the present. We may resume this, for we have not above half done what we intended. - Gardeners' and Farmers' Journal.

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