34 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



beautiful Jasione perennis is abundant, as I 

 is also a beautiful dwarf scarlet thistle, the 

 name of which I do not know. There is 

 no more effective plant, while it continues 

 in bloom, than the common Sainfoin of 

 our fields. Its exquisitely-finished flowers 

 of vivid rose, with darker longitudinal 

 stripes, produced withal in great abun- 

 dance, render it a most useful and showj 

 plant, much more so in my estimation than 

 its more gaudy congener, Hedysarum coro- 

 narium, or, as we commonly term it, 

 French honeysuckle. I find I am be- 

 coming quite enthusiastic and prosy, but 

 I must not deny myself the pleasure of 

 saying what exquisite delight the sight of 

 a patch of the beautiful yellow Crosswort 

 (Galium cruciatum), hi full bloom, gave 

 me, while strolling, a year and a-half since, 

 from Gravesend to Cobham ; I had never 

 seen it before, and was thoroughly charmed 

 with it. In this neighbourhood, also, I 

 found the lovely Ajuga reptans in full 



bloom, in a shady position, quite at home, 

 and throwing up finer spikes than I had 

 ever seen it produce. 



Well, now, I dare say you will think 

 these remarks out of place, but I really 

 did read " Weeds at a Premium" with a 

 keen relish, and I shall be looking ear- 

 nestly for the results of the resolution of 

 your interesting correspondent to culti- 

 vate a collection of British plants, and 

 hope he will not fail to let us have the 

 results of his observation and practice 

 from time to time. 



Stamford Sill. W. Chitty. 



["Weeds at a Premium" was written 

 by a contributor well known to all our 

 readers, who chose to veil himself for once 

 in a fanciful sobriquet, and Mr. Chitty's 

 name was attached to the article by a mis- 

 take of the printer's. The paper, "Among 

 the Ferns to Gather Knowledge" was from 

 Mr. Chitty's pen.] 



A SELECTION OF HOLLYHOCKS, OLD AND NEW. 



I herewith furnish your readers with the 

 names of twelve hollyhocks, new varieties, 

 for 1860, unsurpassed for shape and qiia- 

 lity ; I also add twelve of the most de- 

 cided and pleasing colours, which include 

 some of the very finest flowers ; and, lastly, 

 a list of the best of the old varieties, and 

 which, of course, are the cheapest. 



I might, perhaps, draw your special 

 attention to two or three flowers, viz., 

 Harriet, Leonora, Novelty, etc., possessing 

 an unusual attraction, being a step out of 

 the way of what we have been accustomed 

 to for the last few years ; that is, we have 

 abounded in rose colours, light crimsons, 

 and buffs of a salmon and yellow shade ; 

 also purples, either ruby, crimson, or 

 maroon, with a wide difference in their 

 description, and three or four, oftentimes, 

 varying so slightly as hardly to afford any 

 legitimate distinction from each other and 

 their parent flower. 



The three named above are altogether 

 unlike any others hitherto raised, and may, 

 therefore, be truthfully described as great 

 novelties. 



Of older flowers, I also send a list of 

 the kinds which, in my humble opinion, 

 still stand paramount, and which may 

 always be looked to for good flowers. 

 They are varied in colour, and not to be 

 surpassed by any other old flowers that 

 1860 can produce. I do not admit the 



new flowers, for there are some which 

 certainly possess more substance, and are 

 of a finer quality ; for instance, Mrs. 

 Chater is better than Beauty of Walden — 

 Fearless Improved than Fearless, etc., etc. 

 Yet, for general purposes, those named iu 

 my list are as a set unique, and no other 

 list distinct from this can equal them. 



TWELVE NEWEST AND EINEST-SHAPED 

 HOLLYHOCKS FOR 1860. 



Competitor (Chater), light crimson 

 purple, shaded with mulberry, good spike 

 and habit, medium. 



Exquisite Surpass (Chater), possessing 

 more colour than Exquisite, and of a 

 deeper shade, dwarf. 



Excelsior (Chater), fawn, heavily suf- 

 fused with salmon, a distinct flower, ma- 

 jestic spike and bold habit, tall. 



Fearless Improved (Chater), colour of 

 Fearless, surpassing it in form, a bold and 

 magnificent spike, tall. 



Lady Helen Stewart (Chater), light 

 rosy crimson, compact and full, good 

 habit, and bold spike, tall. 



Lady Bi-aybrooke (Chater), soft fawn, 

 tinted with pink, clear and chaste, close 

 spike, dwarf. 



Lucy (Chater), glowing crimson and 

 amber, very attractive and effective, tall. 



Leonora (Chater), the under side of 

 the petals being light, contrasts with the 



