270 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



colour, that a parterre may be coloured very beautifully without a 

 scrap of a plant belonging to any other genus ; therefore, I think 

 we must give them the precedence. I do not profess to have tried 

 all the sorts that have recently been put into commerce, and it is 

 just possible that I shall pass by a few good varieties without 

 notice. There has been an immense number of nosegay varieties 

 offered as bedders ; but, with few exceptions, they have failed in 

 realizing the descriptions of the vendors. One of the most striking 

 exceptions is one named Baron, sent out by Mr. Mann, of Brent- 

 wood. This is very similar in colour to Stella, but it has a more 

 compact habit and closer truss, and id therefore to be preferred to 

 it, being equally profuse in flowering. Waltham Seedling is one of 

 the grandest nosegays in cultivation, although not very generallv 

 known. The flowers are produced in tremendous trusses, and of ;i 

 brilliant scarlet hue. My advice is, give up Stella and Cybister, 

 and substitute these for them. Beaton's Orange Nosegay must also 

 make way for Hibberd's Orange Nosegay, the latter being superior in 

 size of flowers and truss, and intensity of colour, with the addi- 

 tional advantage of having dark bluish leaves to bring out the rich 

 orange hue, instead of the yellowish green leaves of Beaton's 

 variety. Kentish Fire is another fine variety, with orange scarlet 

 flowers, but quite distinct from either of the Orange Nosegays. 

 The Pink Nosegays are no use for bedding, for the colour soon flies, 

 and the flowers in consequence have a faded and washed-out appear- 

 ance. I have not been able to test Fire King, a grand variety, with 

 huge trusses of flowers of a magenta hue. If it is only half as good 

 planted out as it is in pots, it will be a fine acquisition to the flower- 

 garden. B. K. Bowleg is also a grand bedder of a crimson-scarlet 

 hue. 



Turning to large-flowered varieties, the first that claims atten- 

 tion is Thomas Moore. In this grand variety we have a true florist's 

 flower in size, shape, and colour, with the dwarf habit and free- 

 flowering qualities required in a bedder. The trusses are not large, 

 if we compare them with some of the Nosegays ; but they are pro- 

 duced in such tremendous profusion, that the beds have the appear- 

 ance of being quite solid with bloom. Tristram Shandy is les3 

 refined than the preceding, but it is grand for ribbon borders ; be- 

 sides having a compact free-flowering habit, the light scarlet flowers 

 contrast well with the other varieties. It is very dwarf, and there- 

 fore adapted for front lines. Bev. J. Dix is a good variety, rather 

 old now, but little known. The colour is dark scarlet, and the 

 flowers are of good form, and freely produced in large trusses. 

 Lord Berby and Br. Bindley have both flowered with tolerable 

 freedom this year, but they can hardly claim to rank as first-class 

 bedders. The Bride is the name of a white-flowered variety, that 

 will sweep Madame Vaucher, and other existing varieties of the 

 same colour, out of cultivaion, as soon as it can be had in sufficient 

 quantities. The flowers are pure white, of good shape, and produced 

 freely. The foliage is neat and medium-sized, with narrow zone 

 and fine habit. Excellent and Bucius still keep their exceptionally 

 high character, for they have quite eclipsed all the old varieties, and 



