Plate 359. 

 CARXAT10X8. TllUE BLUE AND ECCENTllIC. 



It says a great deal for the beauty of the Carnation and 

 Picotee that, notwithstanding the scant enconragement offered 

 to them in and around the Metropolis, they still maintain their 

 hold, and that not only are there persons ready to purchase, 

 but amateurs still willing to devote time and attention to hybri- 

 dizing and obtaining new varieties. It is said that at the 

 Horticultural Show, held at l>ury St. Edmund's, on July 16th, 

 there were " some splendid stands exhibited ; Picotees without 

 a trace of blotch or bar, reminding one of the floral compe- 

 titions of old, such a filling-up of these fine old flowers requiring 

 incessant attention, care," etc. Yes, far more tlian all these 

 fine showy-looking tricolour (jeraniums, about wliich people 

 who sneered at the florist's distinctions as absurd are now quite 

 as enthusiastic as ever any grower of the Pansy or Carnation 

 was in former days. 



'llu' flowers which we now figure are unquestionably deser\ang 

 of the distinguislied position they occupy, both having been 

 awarded first-class certificates at the Exhibition at Bury St. 

 Edmund's, where they were exhibited by Mr. Charles Turner, 

 of the Royal Nursery, Slough, tlie largest grower of these 

 beautiful flowers in the south of England. True Blue (Fig. 1 ) 

 is a purple-flake flower of great excellence ; the petals large 

 and regularly disposed, with most regular purple flakes in each 

 petal, the colour in no case running or confused. Eccentric 

 (Fig. 2) is a scarlet bizarre of good brilliancy, belonging to a 

 class always remarkable for tlieir fine effect, the briglit scarlet 

 bars and then the deep crimson ones giving it a very rich 

 appearance ; it is remarkable for its substance and good quality. 



