THE FLORIST. 7 



Thirdly. — From deep-coloured Yellow Selfs, hybridised with the 

 highest-coloured white-ground Picotees of the several 

 classes of red, purple, and rose, using the pollen from 

 those flowers which are particularly distinguished by a 

 steady style of marking, and not intermixing light and 

 heavy edge. 



Fourthly. — From Yellow Picotees, hybridised as in No. 3. 



The following white-ground varieties are well calculated for the 

 purpose of hybridising, as they are all of first-rate excellence : — 

 Headley's King James and Venus ; May's Portia, Sebastian, and 

 Juliet ; Marris's Prince of Wales and Prince Albert ; Ely's Emperor 

 and Mrs. Lilly; Norman's Beauty; Matthews' Enchantress; Cox's 

 Regina ; Wood's Princess Alice ; GatlifFs Regina ; and Mrs. Beavan. 

 There are several other good varieties ; but I presume those I have 

 enumerated will be found sufficient to commence with. 



The process of hybridising being so generally understood, it ap- 

 pears scarcely necessary to allude to it here ; but I beg to observe, 

 that so soon as the bloom is expanded, it should be covered with a 

 piece of gauze, or other light material, in order to prevent bees from 

 anticipating the work, and rendering the operation nugatory ; each 

 cultivator should also record with minuteness the seed-bearing plants, 

 and those from which the pollen was taken, as well as the different 

 traits possessed by each seedling. 



It will be desirable to ascertain the names of a few of the best 

 varieties cultivated ; and probably some growers may be induced to 

 further the present project by furnishing a descriptive list of Yellow 

 Picotees, setting forth their particular properties. This desideratum 

 I am unable to supply ; and as it is undoubtedly an important adjunct, 

 I trust this request will be complied with. 



In the estimation of some cultivators of the Picotee, the foregoing 

 remarks may be considered rather to impede than advance the project 

 I am advocating ; but I beg to observe, such is not my intention, for 

 I have endeavoured to point out the difficulties, in order that they 

 may be known and avoided : the more operators, the sooner the de- 

 sired end will be attained. And here I particularly caution the tyro 

 against deciding on the merits of his own productions ; but I would 

 advise him to forward them to the respective editors of the present 

 work and the Midland Florist, who would faithfully point out their 

 merits and imperfections. 



Alpha. 



