228 THE FLORIST. 



forms a neat and interesting plant late in the season ; but if well 

 grown, it will be found almost impossible to bloom it before August 

 or September. It is only just to remark that Messrs. E. G. Hender- 

 son and Son are entirely blameless in this matter. I know they were 

 not at all aware, prior to their sending it out, that the Shrubland 

 Pet was an old plant. Of the pink Scarlets, as they are commonly 

 called, the Pymmes Seedling, and Smith's Lady Holmsdale, though 

 not very distinct, are still worth growing ; but of these things, sent 

 out late in the spring, it is almost impossible to judge at present. 

 Lady Holmsdale is rather the largest flower, and has a slight mark- 

 ing in the leaf; but both are much like Ingram's Princess Alice, 

 though not quite so strong growing. Of Fancy varieties I have some 

 hundreds planted out for experiment, comprising all the leading va- 

 rieties, even those at a guinea and a half each ; but at present I am 

 not quite convinced of their suitableness for our fickle climate. 



Among Calceolarias I would particularly recommend Sulphurea 

 splendidissima, a fine and distinct yellow kind, producing large 

 trusses and a constant succession of them. The height does not 

 exceed a foot. It requires to be planted rather thickly in good soil, 

 and to be assisted with a little weak manure water in dry weather. 

 Wellington Hero is a variety sent out by Messrs. E. G. Henderson 

 this season. It grows to the height of 18 inches, produces large 

 pannicles of brilliant orange flowers, each flower being three times 

 the size of viscosissima, and quite as bright in colour. Messrs. A. 

 Henderson and Co. have a set of shrubby seedlings which are very 

 promising. 



Phlox Mayii variegata is a splendid plant, and under good 

 management will form a distinct and very fine bed. Each flower 

 is beautifully variegated with lilac and white, and they are produced 

 in great profusion. To insure its keeping well through the winter, 

 it should be struck early, so as to get the plants strong. Phlox 

 Thomsonii is another variety of Drummondii, with brilliant crimson 

 flowers, which ought to be grown in every flower-garden. 



Linaria reticulata, a new plant introduced by Mr. Stark, is a neat 

 and interesting plant, and for rock- work or small beds in a shaded 

 situation it will be found very useful ; being a dark- crimson purple 

 flower, it is not suitable for a sunny situation. It requires a light 

 rich soil and plenty of water in the growing season. Lobelia erinus 

 ramosoides is another of Messrs. Henderson's plants, and certainly 

 the finest of all the dwarf bedding Lobelias. It is very compact in 

 habit, brilliant in colour, and the flowers, though small, are produced 

 in ample profusion. We should imagine it to be a seedling between 

 L. compacta and erinus grandiflora, as in habit it is intermediate 

 between the two. 



Of Heliotropes, unquestionably H. corymbosum is the best for 

 bedding purposes, being dwarf, free, and compact, and not exceeding 

 a foot in height. H. Voltaireanum and Salter's Gem are scarcely 

 distinguishable in the open air ; indeed I almost begin to think Mr. 

 Salter must have made a mistake in sending the plant out, as I have 

 never seen it at all like the seedling plant in colour. H. Voltaireanum 



