MARCH. 79 



variety, but rather a robust grower ; and Due d'Almida, scarlet and 

 crimson, and of good habit. Passing on to deep crimsons. Rouge et 

 Noir was one of the best, but was deficient in form. This defect is 

 happily remedied in King of Sardinia, which has the same colours, but 

 is much better. We are somewhat deficient in this colour, of which 

 old atrosanguinea was the type. Crimson Perfection is a capital 

 variety, but not so deep in colour, being more of a bright ruby crimson, 

 and will make a very lively bed. There is a great deficiency in rose 

 or pink coloured varieties ; indeed, we cannot name one old variety 

 that is really useful. In this class, Lovehness is a great acquisition, 

 clear rosy pink, an excellent close growing variety, which braves sun 

 and rain. In light blue, Auricula has hitherto held a place, but an 

 improvement is effected in Prince Arthur, which is of a similar colour, 

 but better. Blue Bonnet will, however, be the best light blue for bedding, 

 and keeps its colour well, and is of a good habit. In blue purples, we 

 have Blue Beard, a good bedding variety, and Violacea, which is of a 

 deep rich colour with white centre, and most useful for bedding. 

 Purple King is the best light purple, and in dark purples we are now 

 somewhat rich, having Tyrian Prince, rich dark purple with white 

 centre, Duke of Cambridge, which is an improvement on Tyrian 

 Prince, and Field Marshal, which will be found a very useful close 

 growing variety of a violet purple colour. There is also Wonderful, 

 which makes a good bed, and keeps in bloom so late in the autumn, of 

 a plum purple colour with large white centre. There has been very 

 little improvement in whites. The best in colour and habit is, in our 

 opinion, Celina Mallett. Mrs. Halford is a superb variety, waxy French 

 white and very large truss, but appears to be a very strong grower, but 

 in pots it is very fine ; and there is Mrs. F. G. Caley, white with a small 

 pink eye, that is useful for bedding purposes. 



In Scarlet Geraniums we have now many valuable varieties. Attraction 

 is one of the best we have seen, and is grown at Frogmore ; it is bright 

 scarlet in colour, of medium growth, with very large trusses. Royal 

 Dwarf is also another first-class bedding sort and a profuse bloomer. 

 Sutton's Scarlet Perfection is an improved Tom Thumb. General 

 Pelissier is first-rate as a bedding variety, something like Cerise Unique 

 in habit. General Simpson is of a brighter orange scarlet than any we 

 have seen, with a clear white centre, and a dense bloomer. One of the 

 most novel and distinct, however, is Lady Downes, soft rosy carmine, 

 good truss, shape, and habit, being very dwarf and a dense bloomer — a 

 most pleasing colour for a bed. There was room for some improvement 

 in pinks, and we have it in Ingram's Princess Royal, which is of a 

 bright rose colour with white centre, large truss, and a profuse bloomer. 

 This was raised at the Royal Gardens, and will be found an acquisition. 

 In whites, much has yet to be done, Hendersoni is the best. Boule 

 de Niege is not a clear white. We hope some one will soon effect an 

 improvement here. For an edging, or even for a bed, the pretty dwarf- 

 growing Pricess Royal, or Baron Hugel, with its dark small horse-shoe 

 foliage and scarlet flowers, must not be lost sight of. 



Variegated Geraniums have now become very useful accessories to 

 flower gardening. Golden Chain and Lady Cottenham are the best for 



