AUGUST. 241 



country. Many entertain the idea that the application of manure- 

 water adds to the colour and quality of lacing. It is true this will help 

 tliem during a dry season, but this year none has been applied by me, 

 and I never before saw Pinks bloom so finely. If the beds are made 

 rich, and also have some rotten manure trenched in the ground when 

 they are planted, and carefully top-dressed in early spring — say, about 

 the beginning of March — with good rich soil, but little manure-water 

 will be required. Experience proves that manure water used in excess 

 is injurious to the young stock, causing the foliage of many sorts to 

 become spotted and sickly, that it should be used or not according to 

 the season, and when its application is resorted to let it be given in a 

 very weak and diluted form. Let it be attentively seen to that the soil 

 for them to grow in is sweet, rich, and good. 



The following are the best varieties for exhibition : — Mrs. Stevens, 

 new shade of purple, broad petal, medium size, fine quality, a very fine 

 flower ; Adonis, rosy purple, very fine, a variety much improved by 

 being wintered in pots ; Mrs. Norman, reddish purple, of very fine sub- 

 stance and petal, requires disbudding to one ; Purity, this has been very 

 fine, colour reddish purple, fine quality and full size, a first class show 

 flower ; New Criterion, red, fine quality, requires assistance when 

 opening, as the petals sometimes open curly ; James Hogg, one of the 

 best, very fine, usually shy to lace, but good in every respect this year : 

 unquestionably one of the finest Pinks in cultivation when bloomed in 

 its best character : it has a broad petal, large, and of fine substance ; 

 Optima, dark, very smooth, a full flower, very fine ; Alma, red, a large 

 flower, rather full ; Colchester Cardinal, red, rather thin, fine quality, 

 requires disbudding hard ; Gem of the Season, large petal, and well 

 laced; Admiral Dundas, purple, smooth, and of fine quality, medium 

 size ; Peter Young, red, a thick full flower : disbud sparingly, extra 

 fine ; Lady Blandford, rosy purple, a fine full flower : in thinning out 

 leave two buds on each stem ; Sovereign, rosy purple, fine ; Richard 

 Andrews, rosy purple, rather late, but a fine show flower ; Mr. Hoyle, 

 red, very constant ; Arthur, purple ; Titus, reddish purple, large ; 

 Narboro' Buck, violet purple, full flower : leave several buds ; Brunette, 

 dark broad lacing, a variety much improved by being wintered in pots ; 

 Goliath, red, a very large full flower : disbud sparingly ; Sappho, pale 

 red, rather faint in colour, good quality ; Purple Perfection, a large full 

 flower, rather pointed petal ; Hector, red, a very useful flower ; Criterion, 

 dark purple, very fine ; Fanny, red, large, and bold ; Ganymede, rosy 

 purple, a pleasing flower ; Climax, red, very large, leave nearly all the 

 buds ; Prince of Wales, rosy purple : disbud to one only, or it will be 

 too thin ; Field Marshal, rosy, very constant ; John Stevens, violet 

 purple, a little serrated on the edge, but very attractive ; Sarah, bright 

 red, broad lacing, and very constant ; Mr. Weedon, purple, smooth, 

 and constant ; Mrs. Maclean, lilac rose, a very distinct variety ; Mr. 

 Hobbs, rosy purple, fine thick flower, full size ; Lord C. Wellesley, rose, 

 a very useful variety ; Jupiter, purple, rather thin, large petal, and 

 good quality ; Elizabeth Gair, small and thin, but very good quahty ; 

 Harry, dark. 



The above are the best varieties to grow for exhibition. There are 



NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXVIII. R 



