OCTOBER. 209 



THE PINK. 



Pinks have long been as familiar as *^ household words ;" and 

 therefore few flowers require less description. Not only is 

 the Pink an old favourite, but we are certain that it is a fa- 

 vourite still. If the interest as regards this flower has at any- 

 time flagged, it has been for want of novelty; raisers have not 

 kept pace with the demand, the advance not being so rapid 

 as that in many other flowers. We are, however, happy to 

 be enabled to state, that considerable and marked improvement 

 has been eflfected during the last two seasons, both in dissimi- 

 larity and general quality of the flower, together with smooth- 

 ness, distinctness of marking, and distribution of the petals 

 without confusion. 



The two examples which form our illustration for the pre- 

 sent month fully bear out our observations. Colchester Car- 

 dinal was raised by Mr. John Norman of Colchester, and 

 possesses the finest quality. The petal is stout, smooth, and 

 well formed; and as regards fulness, it would please both 

 northern and southern growers. The seed that produced this 

 fine and distinct variety was saved, in 1849, from Criterion 

 crossed with King of Purples. It was sown in 1850, and 

 bloomed for the first time in 1851. It was awarded a first- 

 class certificate at the National Floricultural Society on July 

 1st, at which meeting it excited the admiration of all present. 

 Esther is a good flower, and, although full, is without confu- 

 sion ; it has rosy purple lacing, with very pure white, but it 

 is far behind the Cardinal in smoothness of edge. This variety 

 received a certificate of merit on the same day (see p. 204). 



Of other new varieties we have observed during the 

 past season, Regulator (Looker), is one of the best ; it has 

 purple lacing in the way of Criterion, and is very smooth on 

 the edge. The principal new varieties shewn about London 

 during the past season were enumerated in our August 

 Number. Teddington, raised by Parker of Bath, is a fair 

 average flower, but a little serrated on the edges. Mr. Bragg 

 and Mr. Turner have each shewn some very promising seed- 

 lings during the past season, the best of which were described 

 by us at the time. 



As a word of advice to those who wish good flowers, or 

 intend to exhibit in 1853, we recommend that no time should 

 be lost in planting out the beds for that purpose. To become 

 established before the winter sets in is a point of the greatest 



NEW SERIES. VOL. II. NO. XXII. T 



