80 THE FLORIST. 



yellow-bordered foliage, but we yet want a good scarlet-flowered 

 variety. In white variegated-leaved sorts, Flower of the Day has 

 hitherto held precedence ; but we think it will give way to Alma, which 

 is quite as good a grower, with smoother foHage, clearer white markings, 

 and bright scarlet flowers, and is all that could be wished for. Osborne's 

 Brilliant is in foliage more like IMangles' old variety, with a profusion of 

 deep scarlet flowers, but with free growth it has a tendency to lose the 

 variegation. Of Mrs. Lennox, we have not yet seen enough to speak 

 with any certainty ; and this remark applies to others, of which we know 

 very little. Silver Queen is a variegated " Lucia rosea," but of no 

 particular value as a bedding variety. Dandy and Variegated Prince of 

 Orange are two small growing and distinct kinds that are very useful for 

 margins. One other class of Geraniums still remains, the hybrid 

 bedding varieties. In this, we like best, Mrs. Toward, Purple Unique, 

 Diadematum Spini, Pretty Polly, Morgani, Quercifolium superbum, 

 and one or two others. 



In Fuchsias, none seem more appropriate than some of the old sorts, 

 excepting Othello, which is quite a dwarf free -blooming variety. We 

 have also noticed lately a variety named Miellezi, very much resem- 

 bling the old Microphylla, and useful for small beds or for margins. 



Yellow is a colour much needed in flower gardening, and, excepting 

 in Calceolarias, we are somewhat deficient in this colour. One of the 

 most useful deep yellow coloured plants we have seen is the double 

 Chrysanthemum regalium, which, when kept pegged, will be found a 

 very useful bedding plant, as it blooms very freely until late in the 

 autumn. For a late bed of this colour, Chrysanthemum Annie Hen- 

 derson, if grown on early in pots and planted out, would be useful, as it 

 is an early blooming variety. There is also the Double Yellow Nas- 

 turtium, (Enothera macrocarpa, the YeUow Bouvardia, and Lantana 

 crocea superba, which is of a deep orange colour, and makes a good bed. 



In Petunias, the new double white will, no doubt, be found a useful 

 plant for bedding, but autumn-struck plants will be found to flower 

 more freely. Not but what young plants will do well, but it is evi- 

 dently a free grower. Alba magna is the best single white variety, and 

 makes a good bed. Amazon is a very good purple variety ; and Crimson 

 King, or Crimson Perfection, the best of the small-flowered crimson 

 kinds foi a bed. Prince Albert is unrivalled as a crimson, when it 

 does well. This variety is also known as Semi-duplex, and has large 

 shaded crimson flowers. In rose-coloured varieties, none is better than 

 Shrubland Rose for beds, although Marquise de la Ferte is an improve- 

 ment on it ; but we have yet to see if it will do for planting out. 

 British Queen and some of those beautifully veined varieties make 

 showy beds, but as they are not of decided colours, the clearness and 

 beauty of the marking is often lost. Among these. Purpurea alba will 

 be one of the most distinct and best for out-door decoration. Some of 

 the new Petunias, to be sent out this spring for the first time, are very 

 beautiful for pot culture, especially the new Carnation -striped sorts 

 from the Continent ; also Smith's Hermione, Majestic, and Major 

 Domo. 



Much has been done in shrubby Calceolarias lately, especially by 



