162 THE FLORIST. 



very deep ricli yellow, and tlie top-petals and margin nearly 

 red — a colour we have long aimed at producing. It was 

 raised from an un-named seedling, a sort we have retained 

 some time on account of its colour, being nearly a scarlet, but 

 it is deficient in other properties. 



National is not good till May; but it keeps its colour 

 without running throughout the summer^ which is unusual 

 with light Pansies. In its young state, it has a pale-straw 

 ground, which bleaches white as it " ages ;" but in either con- 

 ditions the ground-colour is entire, with a narrow and well- 

 defined margin. It was raised from Mrs. Beck, which is a 

 seedling from Optima ; and those who have grown the two old 

 varieties will observe the advance made in gaining a great 

 amount of ground-colour, which sets off the eye and the mar- 

 gin to advantage. Of other seedlings, perhaps the best is 

 Marchioness of Bath, raised by Mr. Wheeler of Warminster. 

 This is a pure white-ground variety, with purple top-j)etals 

 and margin ; the eye very dense blotch, which is also very 

 conspicuous on the side-petals as well as the bottom : a fine 

 flower. The same may be said of the Marquis of Bath by the 

 same raiser, a yellow-ground kind, possessing all the richness 

 of the Duke of Xorfolk in its best state ; but very superior in 

 form, as it lies flat, and shews the eye well on the three lower 

 petals. Hales' Monarch is a good flower of the same strain, 

 evidently from the Duke of Norfolk ; all of which are exceed- 

 ingly rich in colour dui'ing the first part of the blooming 

 season. 



Velvet is a rich dark, and Samson a good yellow-ground 

 variety raised by Mr. Bragg. Sir J. Paxton (Betteridge) will 

 be a pleasing flower ; it has a straw-coloured ground with very 

 dark velvety top-petals and margin. Rising Sun (Turner) is 

 a pecuHar flower, with bright yellow-ground colour, and 

 bronze-red top-petals and margin. On some future occasion 

 we may perhaps fui'nish our readers with a coloured like- 

 ness of this variety. 



Of sorts sent out last season our Scotch friends have helped 

 us considerably. St. Andrew (Downie and Laird) is a beau- 

 tiful dark, but a little undersized. Marian (Dickson and Co.) 

 is a large bold flower, straw round the eye, with rich purple 

 top-petals and margin : a little more ground-colour would 

 have made this No. 1 of its class ; it is, however, very stout, 

 and possesses fine form. Flower of the Day (D. and L.) is a 

 large useful dark. King (Jennings), another large flower of 

 the same class, but darker, and will be useful. Pandora and 

 Laertes, both raised by Mr. Hunt, are two very desirable 

 yellow-ground flowers. Maid of Athens (Handasyde) is good 



