172 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



consists of shorter petals (ray florets), which in the best overlap 

 slightly, so as to form an even and substantial annulus. The disc 

 consists of elegantly-quilled florets, arranged in a solid hemisphere, 

 and if the colours are good, flowers so formed are extremely beautiful. 

 The intermediate stage between the sheer single and the thorough 

 double is that form which bears the name of " anemone," and which 

 is the counterpart in this subject of the class of flowers bearing 

 the same name among chrysanthemums. It is very interesting, 

 therefore, to note the characters of the anemone kinds. One 

 of the best of these is Lysias, which produces a large number of 

 bold flowers of the size of a crown-piece, the colour a most pleasing 

 shade of carmine. Others worth notice are the following: — Thomas 

 Massart, pale peach; Comte de Monfbron, pale rose; Hendersoni, 

 rosy-purple, yellow centre ; Coqueterie, purplish rose ; Vilmorin, rose- 

 pink with yellowish centre. 



The next stage is the highest degree of perfection, and the 

 flowers of the third section are called " ranunculuses," on account 

 of their fine hemispherical outlines and the uniform character of the 

 florets, which are most elegantly and symmetrically arranged. One 

 of the best in this series is Purple Prince, the flower very large and 

 finely formed ; the colour rose, crimson, and purple. Haarje and 

 Smidt, Titiens, Alfred Salter, Henri -M&egur, Madame Boucharlet, 

 Rev. Joshua Dix, Madame Billiard, Herman Stenger, Versailles Defi- 

 ance, and Princess Alexandra are all grand in character, and may be 

 called exhibition flowers ; they have high centres, beautiful outlines, 

 the construction is refined, and if they were fairly exhibited they 

 would some become as popular as asters, chrysanthemums, and 

 gladioluses. There are two or three dozen of good varieties besides 

 those named, but I am contented to select the typical varieties, 

 leaving the general mass to those who like to search them out. 



The question arises, what are they good for ? They are good to 

 make a fine display during May and June, when geraniums and 

 verbenas have all their growing yet to do before they show a bloom. 

 At such a time the pyrethrums, pa?onies, and irises are in their full 

 beauty, and as they are all hardy, they want no glass to keep them 

 through the winter ; and the propagation is simply a matter of 

 division of the roots. This naturally leads us to consider if pyre- 

 thrums are of any use for bedding, and the answer is, that they 

 make splendid beds during the month of June, and after June their 

 glories wane. The beautiful Delphinium formosum is in perfection 

 at the same season, and well adapted to associate with pyrethrums 

 for a June display, when our gardens generally are utterly destitute 

 of flowers, and for the first time in the year we are beginning to 

 enjoy outdoor exercise. Surely a grand display in June is well 

 worth having, especially as it may be had on the same ground as 

 the geraniums are to occupy, by treating the pyrethrums in exactly 

 the same way as they treat Delphinium formosum at the Crystal 

 Palace. There the delphiniums are planted in rows, and trained 

 down ; in due time geraniums are planted in rows between 

 tbem ; and the result is that the first flowers of the geraniums 

 mingle with the last flowers of the delphiniums, and the mix- 



