Plate 442. 

 VARIETIES OF PERSIAN CYCLAMEN. 



We have again to recoi'd the vast progress that the Persian 

 Cyclamen is making as a decorative spring plant. The success 

 which has attended the exertions of Mr. Wiggins and other 

 raisers has met with a response in the wide popularity of the 

 flower, and at the same time increased vigour has been thrown 

 into the plants, so that they are most readily gro^vn and 

 flowered. It was formerly considered that unless they had 

 been grown for three or four years it would be impossible to 

 get good flowering plants, whereas, even in the course of a 

 year, good blooming plants can be obtained from seed. 



In the collections exhibited this season, it is noticeable that 

 the size of the flower, especially in the width of the petals, has 

 been greatly increased, that a deeper shade of coloiu* has been 

 gained in the red and rosy-purple varieties, while spotted 

 flowers are now taking their place amongst the other varieties. 

 Formerly these spots were very irregular, and seemed to be 

 rather the results of disease, but in the varieties figured on our 

 plate it will be seen that this is no longer the case, the spots 

 are distant and regularly placed, and when these flowers are 

 produced in large masses, as in Mr. Wiggins' plants, exhibited 

 this season, the efi'ect is singularly beautiful. 



We have but little to add as to culture. Mr. Wiggins, to 

 whom we are indebted for the flowers figured, has shown that by 

 generous treatment and constant growing they can be readily 

 made into large and vigorous plants, that they do not require 



