NOVEMBER. 341 



NORTHERN ESTIMATE OF SEEDLING DAHLIAS. 



At Ihe conclusion of the meeting of the National Floricultural 

 Society of the 18th September, a box of 24 Dahlia blooms was sent 

 off to Edinburgh for the inspection of such of our northern friends as 

 were within reach of that City. The blooms could not, of course, be 

 seen in the freshness that surrounded them at Regent-street, and many 

 were nmch injured by the long journey. The following remarks are 

 furnished by the gentlemen whose names are attached, and as they are 

 known to be among the best cultivators of this popular flower in the 

 North, their opinion will, we are sure, be of value to the growers in 

 the Northern and ]\Iidland districts. 



Midnight (Fellowes). — A beautiful dark shaded flower, of first-rate 

 outline and immense depth of petal. We venture to predict that 

 this variety will be found in all good winning stands for many years 

 to come. 



Lady Popkam (Turner). — A white flower slightly tipped with 

 delicate rose. A fine and well built flower ; very deep and sym- 

 metrical, with well rounded shoulder and high centre. A great 

 acquisition ; first-rate in every resp^t. 



Marion (Fellowes). — Another gem in the Fanny Keynes class and 

 style, but much whiter, and more clear in the ground colour ; also 

 brighter in the tipping ; to all appearance not difficult to get up in 

 the centre ; good size ; form first-rate. A fine companion to Lady 

 Popham. 



Charley Self (Keynes). — A dark maroon, shaded with crimson 

 purple. In the way of Grand Sultan, but finer in form than that 

 flower usually is, being high built, with very fine centre. [This 

 variety is a sport from Charles Perry (Keynes), a fancy flower 

 elsewhere noted. — Ed.] 



Cherub (Holmes). — Light orange. A full sized high built flower ; 

 good in form, colour very attractive. 



Mrs. Critchett (Rawlings). — Buff. Seemingly a very promising 

 flower, but did not arrive in a state which would enable us to judge 

 decidedly of its merits ; the flower sent was rather young and unde- 

 veloped, also it was damaged in carriage. 



Harbinger (Holmes). — Very bright scarlet, in the way of Sir G. 

 Napier, with a better petal. Size medium, form good, centre very 

 prominent. 



Mont Blanc (Fellowes). — A very promising white flower, with good 

 petal and close centre, bloom too young, however, and damaged in 

 carriage. 



Mrs. Edwards (Keynes). — Clear lilac petal, but so much damaged 

 we could not judge of the form. 



Touchstone.— U^hi purple. Fine petal and outline, but this also 

 was very much damaged. . . 



Francis (Grant).— Fiery red, with clear white tip ; very distmct ; 

 form good, size medium. «> j 



Charles Perry (Keynes).— Rosy purple, striped and suffused with 

 maroon ; novel and attractive. 



